BILL NUMBER: AB 2492 CHAPTERED 07/09/04 CHAPTER 128 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 9, 2004 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 8, 2004 PASSED THE SENATE JUNE 24, 2004 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY APRIL 29, 2004 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2004 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member La Suer FEBRUARY 19, 2004 An act to amend Section 8811.5 of the Family Code, relating to adoption. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2492, La Suer. Adoption: preplacement evaluations. Existing law provides that a licensed private adoption agency may certify prospective adoptive parents by a preplacement evaluation that contains findings of suitability. This bill would revise and recast that provision to specify that preplacement evaluations may be made by a licensed private or public adoption agency of the state of the petitioners' residency. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 8811.5 of the Family Code is amended to read: 8811.5. (a) A licensed private or public adoption agency of the state of the petitioners' residency may certify prospective adoptive parents by a preplacement evaluation that contains a finding that an individual is suited to be an adoptive parent. (b) The preplacement evaluation shall include an investigation pursuant to standards included in the regulations governing independent adoption investigations established by the department. Fees for the investigation shall be commensurate with those fees charged for a comparable investigation conducted by the department or by a delegated licensed county adoption agency. (c) The preplacement evaluation, whether it is conducted for the purpose of initially certifying prospective adoptive parents or for renewing that certification, shall be completed no more than one year prior to the signing of an adoption placement agreement. The cost for renewal of that certification shall be in proportion to the extent of the work required to prepare the renewal that is attributable to changes in family circumstances.