Bill > HB159

This bill substantially revises the general provisions applicable to adoptions in Georgia. Key provisions include: - Changing the requirements for adopting children, including allowing a nonresident to adopt their child and providing for the adoption of foreign-born children. - Providing a waiver to revoke a surrender of parental rights and changing the age for individuals to access the Adoption Reunion Registry. - Revising and providing new forms for adoption-related documents. - Allowing for the annulment of an adoption under certain circumstances. - Correcting a cross-reference in the law related to termination of parental rights. The bill aims to enhance family preservation and stability by creating a statutory mechanism for temporarily delegating caregiving authority to a relative or other approved person without a court proceeding or involvement of the state child welfare agency. It also requires local school boards to provide adoptive parents leave on the same basis as biological parents.