Bill > HR5540

This bill, the "In Good Standing Adoption Agencies Act of 2023," aims to establish a national list of licensed private child placement agencies that are in good standing with their respective states and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Requiring states with approved child welfare plans to submit an annual list of their licensed and accredited child placement agencies in good standing to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the "Secretary") by January 1 each year. 2. Directing the Secretary, through the United States Children's Bureau, to compile and maintain a publicly available national list based on the state-submitted information. 3. Requiring the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress identifying any child placement agencies licensed by a state but not included in the national list, as well as any disciplinary actions taken by states against private child placement agencies. 4. Withholding adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments from states that fail to comply with the requirement to submit the annual list of licensed child placement agencies. The purpose of this legislation is to enhance transparency and accountability in the private child placement agency sector, ensuring that only agencies in good standing are included in the national list and made available to prospective adoptive families.