LAC 67:V.4903. Nonrecurring Expenses in Adoptions

A. The Division of Child Welfare sets forth criteria for reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses associated with the adoption of children with special needs. 1. The amount of the payment made for nonrecurring expenses of adoption shall be determined through agreement between the adopting parent(s) and the Division of Child Welfare. The agreement must indicate the nature and amount of the nonrecurring expenses to be paid. 2. The agreement for nonrecurring expenses must be signed prior to the final decree of adoption. 3. There must be no income eligibility requirement (means test) for adopting parents in determining whether payments for nonrecurring expenses of adoption shall be made. However, parents cannot be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for which they have otherwise been reimbursed. 4. To be eligible, the child must meet the criteria previously established by the Division of Child Welfare to be designated as a "child with special needs". Furthermore, the child must have been placed for adoption in accordance with applicable statelaws. 5. The rate of reimbursement for nonrecurring expenses has been set at $1,000 per adoption. 6. In cases where siblings are placed and adopted, whether separately or as a unit, each child is treated as an individual with separate reimbursement for nonrecurring expenses up to the maximum amount allowable for each child. 7. Reimbursement is limited to costs incurred by or on behalf of adoptive parents that are not otherwise reimbursed from other sources. Payments for nonrecurring expenses shall be made directly by the Division of Child Welfare. 8. When the adoption of the child involves interstate placement, the state that enters into an adoption subsidy agreement will be responsible for paying the nonrecurring adoption expenses of the child. In cases where there is interstate placement but no agreement for other federal or state adoption assistance (subsidy), the state in which the final adoption decree is issued will be responsible for reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses if the child meets the definition of a "child with special needs". 9. The term nonrecurring adoption expenses means reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees and other expenses which are directly related to the legal adoption of a child with special needs, which are not incurred in violation of state or federal law, and which have not been reimbursed from other sources or other funds. Other expenses which are directly related to the legal adoption of a child with special needs means the costs of the adoption incurred by or on behalf of the parents and for which parents carry the ultimate liability for payment. Such costs may include the adoption home study, including health and psychological examinations, supervision of the placement prior to finalization of the adoption, transportation and the reasonable costs of lodging and food for the child and/or the adoptive parents when necessary to complete the placement or adoption process.