CO Code § 19-5-206 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 19 - Children's Code|Article 5 - Relinquishment and Adoption|Part 2 - Adoption|§ 19-5-206. Placement for Purposes of Adoption

  A placement of any child legally available for adoption pursuant to section 19-5-203 (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c), or (1)(g) must not be made for the purposes of adoption except by the court pursuant to section 19-5-104 (2), the county department of human or social services, or a licensed child placement agency.      In child welfare cases, a child's best interests shall be the primary consideration for a court, county department, or licensed child placement agency in making determinations concerning the placement of the child for the purpose of adoption.    (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (HB 10-1106), ch. 278, p. 1272, § 2, effective May 26, 2010.)    An agency that has responsibility for placing children out of the home shall use good faith efforts and due diligence to recruit and retain prospective foster and adoptive families from communities that reflect the racial, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of the children in the agency's care.    In making determinations concerning the placement of a child for the purpose of adoption, a court, county department, or licensed child placement agency may, under extraordinary circumstances, consider the racial or ethnic background, color, or national origin of:   The child; or    A family who has submitted an application to adopt.       A court, county department, or licensed child placement agency shall not delay a foster or adoptive placement of a child as a result of the racial or ethnic background, color, or national origin of:   The child; or    A family who has submitted an application to foster or adopt a child.       In private adoption cases, a birth parent or birth parents may designate a specific applicant with whom they may wish to place their child for purposes of adoption. After assessment and approval of the potential adoptive parents and subsequent relinquishment of the child, the court shall grant guardianship of the child to a person or agency described in section 19-5-104 (1) until finalization of adoptive placement.    The court may waive the assessment and approval of the potential adoptive parents in cases involving kinship or custodial adoption or may determine and order the kind of information or written report it deems necessary for the assessment and approval of the potential adoptive parents, including an abbreviated home study or home evaluation. The court may proceed to finalize such adoptive placement upon finding that the placement is in the best interests of the child.       (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (HB 10-1106), ch. 278, p. 1272, § 2, effective May 26, 2010.)      History. Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 807, § 1, effective October 1. L. 89: (2) amended, p. 938, § 2, effective March 21. L. 94: (2) amended, p. 71, § 1, effective March 15; (3) added, p. 673, § 2, effective July 1. L. 99: (2) amended, p. 1063, § 4, effective June 1. L. 2010: (2) and (3) amended,(HB 10-1106), ch. 278, p. 1272, § 2, effective May 26. L. 2018: (1) amended,(SB 18-092), ch. 38, p. 427, § 71, effective August 8.    Editor's note:   This section was contained in a title that was repealed and reenacted in 1987. Provisions of this section, as it existed in 1987, are similar to those contained in 19-4-108 as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.   Cross references:   For the legislative declaration in SB 18-092, see section 1 of chapter 38, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.   ANNOTATION   Law reviews. For article, “Adoption Procedures of Minor Children in Colorado”, see 12 Colo. Law. 1057 (1983). For article, “Substantive Changes in Adoption and Relinquishment Law in Colorado”, see 16 Colo. Law. 2183 (1987).   Annotator's note. The following annotations include cases decided under former provisions similar to this section.   Welfare departments and placement agencies not solely authorized to place adoptive children. Inasmuch as the general assembly has granted the court exclusive jurisdiction over adoptions, has expressly authorized adoptive placement, and has given the court the final and sole responsibility of approving or disapproving adoptions, it would be totally inconsistent to conclude that the welfare department or licensed placement agencies are the sole entities authorized to place a child for adoption following termination of parental rights. People in Interest of M.D.C.M., 34 Colo. App. 91, 522 P.2d 1234 (1974).