BILL NUMBER: SB 169	CHAPTERED  06/24/03

	CHAPTER  19
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 24, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JUNE 23, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 19, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  APRIL 10, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 8, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Karnette

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2003

   An act to add Section 8920 to the Family Code, relating to
adoption.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 169, Karnette.  Intercountry adoptions.
   Existing law specifies the procedure for intercountry adoptions
that will be finalized in this state.
   This bill would add a new provision that would authorize a child
who was adopted as part of a sibling group and who has been separated
from his or her sibling or siblings through readoption by a resident
of this state to petition the court to enforce any agreement for
visitation to which the separate adoptive families of the siblings
subscribed prior to the child's readoption, as defined, or to order
visitation if no such agreement exists.  The bill would authorize a
court to order that the agreement be enforced or grant visitation
upon a finding that visitation is in the best interest of the child,
as specified.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 8920 is added to the Family Code, to read:
   8920.  (a) A child who was adopted as part of a sibling group and
who has been separated from his or her sibling or siblings through
readoption by a resident of this state may petition the court to
enforce any agreement for visitation to which the separate adoptive
families of the siblings subscribed prior to the child's readoption
or to order visitation if no such agreement exists.  The court may
order that the agreement be enforced or grant visitation rights upon
a finding that visitation is in the best interest of the child.
   (b) In making a finding that enforcement of an existing agreement
or the granting of visitation rights is in the best interest of the
child under subdivision (a), the court shall take into consideration
the nature and extent of the child's sibling relationship, including,
but not limited to, whether the child was raised with a sibling in
the same home, whether the child shares significant common
experiences or has close and strong bonds with a sibling, and whether
ongoing contact with a sibling is in the child's best interest,
including the child's long-term interest.
   (c) As used in this section, "sibling" means full-siblings or
half-siblings.
   (d) As used in this section, "readoption" means the process by
which a child who belongs to a foreign-born sibling group that was
adopted together through an intercountry adoption is subsequently
adopted by a different set of adoptive parents who are residents of
the state.