(iv) The subject of a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record check may obtain a copy of the criminal history record check by following the procedures outlined in 28 Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 16.32 and 16.33. The subject of a state criminal history record check may inspect and review the criminal history record information pursuant to Title 16, section 620.

(v) State and federal criminal history record information may be used by the court for the purpose of screening prospective adoptive parents in determining whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child.

(vi) Information obtained pursuant to this paragraph is confidential. The results of background checks received by the court are for official use only and may not be disseminated outside the court except as required under Title 22, section 4011-A.

(vii) The expense of obtaining the information required by this paragraph is incorporated in the adoption filing fee established in section 9-301. The Probate Court shall collect the total fee and transfer the appropriate funds to the Department of Public Safety and the department.

The court may waiver fingerprinting and background checks of a prospective parent who is not the biological parent of the child if, within the past 2 years, the fingerprinting and background checks were completed by a licensed child-placing agency in conjunction with an adoption home study.

This subsection does not authorize the court to request a background check for the biological parent who is also the current legal parent of the child.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the laws governing background checks on prospective adoptive parents to accept as meeting the requirement a background check completed in the prior 2 years by a licensed child-placing agency and to require that the background check occur prior to placement of the child with the family.