New Adoption Legislation in Illinois Protects Biological and Prospective Parents

By Christina Rentz

Published on August 31, 2005

Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the Adoption Reform Act on Sunday. The new legislation is designed to avoid interstate custody battles and protect biological and adoptive parents from the coercive acts of for-profit adoption agencies.

The bill comes in response to an interstate custody battle over Baby Tamia Hemphill that occurred earlier this year. Baby Tamia's grandparents, who live in Chicago, claimed the adoption agency coerced Tamia's mother into giving her child up for adoption. Tamia was to be placed with a couple in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The family continued fighting for custody until the Salt Lake City couple was arrested for drug possession. Upon the arrest, the adoption agency returned Tamia to her biological mother.

The new state law obligates adoption agencies to strictly adhere to a specific code of behavior. Under the new law, which takes affect immediately, agencies must divulge all fees and information regarding the child's placement to the involved parties. The legislation also requires all for-profit agencies to convert to non-profit agencies within two years.

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