Bill Text: VA HB418 | 2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Adoption; circuit court to accept a petition filed by child's foster parent.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-02 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0094) [HB418 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HB418-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §63.2-1229 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§63.2-1229. Foster parent adoption.
When a foster parent who has a child placed in the foster parents'
home by a licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency desires to adopt the
child and (i) the child-placing agency holding custody of the child consents
to the adoption after the child has resided in the home of such foster parent
continuously for at least six months or the child-placing agency holding
custody of the child does not consent to the adoption and the child has
resided in the home of such foster parent continuously for at least eighteen
18 months and (ii) the birth parents' rights to the child have been
terminated, the circuit court shall accept the petition filed by the foster
parent and shall order a thorough investigation of the matter to be made
pursuant to §63.2-1208. The circuit court may refer the matter for
investigation to a licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency other than
the agency holding custody of the child. Upon completion of the investigation
and report and filing of the consent of the agency holding custody of the
child, or upon the finding contemplated by §63.2-1205, the circuit court may
enter a final order of adoption waiving visitation requirements, if the circuit
court determines that the adoption is in the best interests of the child.
2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.