67 Pa.C.S. Ch. 77

in effect

67 Pa.C.S. § 7701 Declaration of purpose.

This chapter shall be interpreted and construed to effect the purpose of encouraging and promoting the placement of children who have disabilities or are hard to place by virtue of age, sibling relationship or ethnicity in adoptive homes.

67 Pa.C.S. § 7702 Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Adoption opportunity." A subsidy which may include: (1) maintenance costs; (2) medical, surgical and psychological expenses; and (3) other costs incident to the adoption. "Child." An individual who: (1) is under 18 years of age; or (2) is under 21 years of age and attained 13 years of age before the adoption assistance agreement became effective and is: (i) completing secondary education or an equivalent credential; (ii) enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or career and technical education; (iii) participating in a program actively designed to promote or remove barriers to employment; (iv) employed for at least 80 hours per month; or (v) incapable of doing any of the activities described in subparagraph (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) due to a medical or behavioral health condition that is supported by regularly updated information in the permanency plan of the child. "County agency." The county children and youth social service agency exercising the power and duties provided for in section 405 of the act of June 24, 1937 (P.L.2017, No.396), known as the County Institution District Law, or its successor, and supervised by the department under Article IX of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code. "Eligible child." A child in the legal custody of the county agency where parental rights have been terminated pursuant to the procedure set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. Pt. III (relating to adoption) and who has been in foster placement for a period of not less than six months and shown to be difficult to adopt because of a disability or by virtue of age, sibling relationship or ethnicity. A child in the legal custody of an agency approved by the department shall be an eligible child if the child is certified as eligible by the county agency.

67 Pa.C.S. § 7703 Regulations.

(a) Duty of department.--The department may establish and develop criteria and promulgate necessary regulations for county agencies to implement an adoption opportunity in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (b) Content.--The regulations shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Criteria for identifying eligible children and adoptive homes. (2) Procedures for implementing the adoption opportunity payment. (3) Reporting requirements by county agencies. Cross References. Section 7703 is referred to in section 7704 of this title.

67 Pa.C.S. § 7704 Adoption opportunity payments and reimbursement.

(a) Amount.--The amount of adoption opportunity payment for maintenance costs to an adoptive family shall not exceed the monthly payment rate for foster family care in the county in which the child resides. (b) County reimbursement.--The department shall reimburse county agencies for at least 80% of the cost of an adoption opportunity provided by the county agency under this chapter if the county agency complies with the reporting requirements established by the department under section 7703 (relating to regulations). (c) Limitation.--No public money shall be expended under this chapter on behalf of an eligible child until all available benefits under existing or future private, public, Federal, State or local programs have been exhausted. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, adoptive families subsidized under the provisions of this chapter shall not be liable under the provisions of the act of October 20, 1966 (3rd Sp.Sess., P.L.96, No.6), known as the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966, or 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 46 (relating to support of the indigent) in the event that the adopted child needs services or assistance under the provisions of Article IV of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, or under the provisions of the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=67Fetched: 10/16/2026