FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 59
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS STEELMAN, WIGGINS, RUSSELL AND KENNEY.
Pre-filed December 1, 2000, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
0527S.02I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 191, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to adoption.
Section A. Chapter 191, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 191.975, to read as follows:
191.975. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Adoption Awareness Law".
2. In order to raise public awareness and educate the public, the division of maternal, child and family health in the department of health, in conjunction with the department of social services and with the office of women's health in the department of health, shall be responsible for:
(1) Collecting resource materials in order to educate communities about foster care and adoption;
(2) Establishing and promoting education materials which shall include a toll-free telephone number established by the department and which may include a video, brochures or public relations campaigns about adoption and foster care for public use and for use as a part of the department of health's family planning and education programs. The material shall include, but not be limited to, information about:
(a) The benefits of adoption and foster care;
(b) Adoption and foster care procedures;
(c) Methods of payment;
(d) Methods of controlling the adoption of a child, including the choice of adoptive parents;
(e) Protection for and rights, or lack thereof, of the birth parents prior to and following the adoption;
(f) Location of adoption and foster care agencies;
(g) Discussion of various state health programs for women and children, including medical assistance programs, as well as income assistance programs; and
(h) Direction to appropriate counseling services which shall include, but not be limited to, information for parents who elect to keep their children;
(3) Such materials shall be made available through department of health clinics and family planning programs, and privately-funded adoption agencies, and abortion facilities, as defined in section 188.015, RSMo, and private physicians for distribution to their patients who request such material. Such materials may be made available to the public through the department of health's Internet website.
3. The duties prescribed in this section shall be subject to appropriations by the general assembly.
4. The division shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this section in accordance with chapter 536, RSMo.