Adoption Bill Moves Through Pennsylvania Legislature
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Three more bills from a package of legislation to streamline and speed up adoption procedures in Pennsylvania were approved by a state House committee on Wednesday.
Greg Grassa is Executive Director of the House Children and Youth Committee, which advanced three bills that are part of an eight bill package to tighten up adoption procedures. Grassa says one of the most important bills in the package has already passed the House and awaits action in the Senate. That measure would reduce the period of time a birth mother can revoke her consent from 30 days to 14 days.
"From the adoptive family's point of view, they can actually bring a child home and welcome them into their hearts and homes," Grassa said, "and on the 29th day of the revocation period, the birth mother can still say 'ahh, I've changed my mind.'"
On Wednesday, one bill approved by the committee requires courts to set a hearing date of no more than 20 days after birth parents' file a petition to relinquish their parental rights.
