Rep. Miller announces bill to reduce financial burdens of adoption

State Rep. Adam Miller (D-Columbus) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 661, pro-family legislation to assist prospective adoptive families with procedural costs and other financial burdens associated with adoption.

“HB 661 gives Ohio families that have the love, heart and soul—but not the financial resources to cover high procedural costs—the chance to adopt,” said Miller. “Adopting pro-family policies strengthens families and communities across our state. Finding the right loving home for a child should not be reliant on family income.”

Currently, Ohio’s Adoption Assistance Loan Fund, directed by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (JFS), helps families meet the financial challenges of adoption. The program provides loans to prospective adoptive parents for up to $3,000 if the child being adopted lives in Ohio and up to $2,000 for a child not from Ohio. HB 661 will allow the director of JFS to waive loan repayment in cases where initial court and administrative costs and other financial hardships would otherwise prevent a family from adopting.

According to the Franklin County Law Library, an adoption can cost as much as $50,000, with voluntary newborn adoptions ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 and attorney-assisted newborn adoptions ranging from $20,000 to $30,000. Adopting from a county foster care program costs about $1,000.

HB 661 is currently awaiting referral to a House committee, where it will receive its initial hearings.