reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
LA Chil Code art. 1275 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1275. Nondisclosure

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the information acquired by the voluntary registry of Louisiana shall not be disclosed under any sunshine or freedom of information legislation, rules, or practice. B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person, group of persons, or entity, including an agency, may file a class action to force the voluntary registry to disclose identifying information. Acts 1991, No. 235, §12, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 1276 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1276. Disclosure of death of biological parents and adopted persons

When one or both of the biological parents are deceased, or when the adopted person is deceased and this fact is known by the voluntary registry or by the licensed adoption agency, firm, or lawyer which originally placed the adopted person for adoption, this information shall be disclosed to any person permitted to register pursuant to Article 1270 and who has registered with the office of community services under the provisions of this Chapter, and the registered persons shall then be afforded the option of deciding whether they still desire to avail themselves of the contact opportunity provided through the voluntary registry. Acts 1991, No. 235, §12, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2008, No. 583, §1; Acts 2010, No. 266, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1277 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1277. Other remedies not affected

Nothing contained in this Chapter shall limit a person's right to proceed under Chapter 5 of this Title to obtain confidential adoption information. Acts 1991, No. 235, §12, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 1278 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1278. Rules and regulations

The department shall adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter. Acts 1991, No. 235, §12, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
LA Chil Code art. 1279.1 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1279.1. Short title; citation

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana Has Faith in Families Act". Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.
LA Chil Code art. 1279.2 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1279.2. Legislative findings

The legislature finds: 1. It is in the best interest of a foster child who is adoption-eligible to be placed in a permanent adoptive family as soon as practicable. 2. The state has an interest in decreasing the delays in finalizing adoptions in order to facilitate permanent adoption and family cohesion. Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.
LA Chil Code art. 1279.3 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1279.3. Purpose

Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, in order to facilitate the recruitment of new families for children, the incentives provided in this Chapter shall be made available for those children who have been adopted from the custody of the state and meet eligibility requirements. Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.
LA Chil Code art. 1279.5 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1279.5. Health insurance reimbursement

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any child in the custody of the department who is eligible for adoption and is placed in an approved adoptive home shall be eligible for dependent coverage under the prospective adoptive parents' health insurance policy pursuant to R.S. 22:1004. Any additional costs for the child to be added to the adoptive parents' health insurance policy shall not be paid for by the department, but the adoptive parents may qualify for premium assistance pursuant to Paragraph C of this Article. B. Any child who is in the custody of the department or has been adopted from the custody of the department shall be qualified for Medicaid if the child meets the guidelines set forth pursuant to Part II of Chapter 8 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statues of 1950. C. Any child in the custody of the department who is Medicaid eligible, is eligible for adoption, and has been placed in an approved prospective adoptive home or adopted from the custody of the department shall be considered for premium assistance for employer sponsored insurance pursuant to LAC 50:III.2311. Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.
LA Chil Code art. 1279.6 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1279.6. Educational opportunities and assistance

A.(1) A child who is in foster care pursuant to placement through the department shall be allowed to remain enrolled in the public school in which the child was enrolled at the time he entered foster care for the duration of the child's stay in the custody of the state or until he completes the highest grade offered at the school, if the department determines that remaining in such school is in the best interest of the child. Transportation of the child shall be provided pursuant to R.S. 17:238(C). (2) A child in the custody of the department shall be eligible to attend a school in the school district or parish of the foster care placement. (3) A child in the custody of the department shall be given preference in enrollment in the same manner as children receiving preference in R.S. 17:3991(C)(1)(c)(iii) for enrollment to attend a charter school that has been established pursuant to R.S. 17:3983. B. When a child is in the custody of the department and is placed with foster parents who have other children living in the home who already attend a nonpublic or parochial school, the foster child may attend the same nonpublic or parochial school if the department finds it is in the best interest of the child, and if the child meets the admission requirements of the nonpublic or parochial school. The department shall not be directly responsible for paying for the expenses associated with such education. C. When a child is in the custody of the department and is placed with foster parents who have other children in the home who are participants in an approved home study program, pursuant to R.S. 17:236.1, the department may approve the placement of the foster child in an approved home study program if the department finds it is in the best interest of the child. Home study programs approved by the Department of Education to educate foster children shall offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level, pursuant to R.S. 17:236.1(C)(1). Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Department of Education shall provide the department, upon request, verification that a home study program in which a foster child is participating has been approved pursuant to R.S. 17:236. The foster parent shall provide the department appropriate documentation, including but not limited to copies of standardized tests, to substantiate that the child is progressing on grade level and at a rate equal to one grade level for each year in the program. Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.
LA Chil Code art. 1279.7 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1279.7. Expedited procedure for finalizing adoptions

In order to shorten the waiting time for finalizing the adoption when the child is eligible for adoption, the following shall apply: (1) Where the child has been placed in foster care with the prospective adoptive parents, any necessary waiting period as required by Article 1211 shall be applied retroactively. (2) When the child is in the custody of the department, any additional home study required by Article 1207 may be waived by the court if the adoptive parents have been the foster parents of the child for the required six-month time period. (3)(a) Whenever a child has been placed in the custody of the department and the child is eligible for adoption, the prospective adoptive parents may file an adoption proceeding in the court that terminated the parental rights, pursuant to Article 1180, and the case shall be allotted to the judge who presided over the termination proceedings. (b) The court may order the approval of the adoptive placement ex parte without the need for a hearing required pursuant to Article 1177, where the prospective adoptive parents were previously approved by the department as foster parents for the child. Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.1 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.1. Purpose

TITLE XII-A. INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION OF CHILDREN CHAPTER 1. PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS; DEFINITIONS Art. 1281.1. Purpose The purpose of this Title is to provide procedures for the adoption of foreign-born orphans by domiciliaries of Louisiana. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.2 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.2. General applicability of other Children's Code provisions

Except as otherwise specified in this Title, all provisions of the Children's Code remain applicable. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.3 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.3. Definitions

As used in this Title: (1) "Agency" or "child placing agency" includes the Department of Children and Family Services, the corresponding department of any other state, and those private agencies and institutions licensed for the placement of children for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services or by the corresponding department of any other state. Any person offering or providing intercountry adoption services shall be accredited by the Department of State in accordance with the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012. (2) "Birth certificate" means official documentation of the child's record of birth acceptable to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and, if the document is not in English, a certified translation of the document. (3) "Convention adoptee" or "Hague Convention adoptee" means a child living in a Hague Convention country who is under the age of sixteen at the time a Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, is filed on his behalf and who is found by the Department of State and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to meet the definition of "Convention Adoptee" under Section 101(b)(1)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 USC 1101(b)(1)(G)). (4) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. (5) "Foreign orphan" means a child living in a Non-Hague Convention country (a) who is under the age of sixteen at the time a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, is filed on his behalf and who is found by the Department of State or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to meet the definition of "orphan" under Section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 USC 1101(b)(1)(F)); or (b) who is under the age of eighteen and is a biological sibling of a child previously adopted by the same applicant(s) who is petitioning on his behalf. (6) "Hague Convention adoption" or "Hague adoption" or "Convention adoption" means the adoption of a child habitually residing in any country outside the United States that is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. "Orphan adoption" or "Non-Hague adoption" refers to the adoption of a child from a country that is not a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2004, No. 26, §3; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.4 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.4. Types of adoption

A. This Title sets forth the exclusive procedures for intercountry adoption of foreign orphans in Louisiana. There are two types of intercountry adoptions of foreign orphans in Louisiana: (1) Adoption or recognition of a foreign decree of adoption of a foreign orphan from a country outside the United States that is not a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. (2) Adoption or recognition of a foreign decree of adoption of a convention adoptee from a country outside the United States that is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. B. The procedures governing each type of adoption are set forth in the following Articles. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.5 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.5. Prior approval of adoptive placement

No child who is the subject of an intercountry adoption shall be placed in the home of the prospective adoptive parents prior to their obtaining a certification for adoption that meets the requirements of Articles 1171 through 1173 and prior to approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.6 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.6. Venue in intercountry adoption

A. A proceeding for an intercountry adoption may be commenced in either: (1) The juvenile court in the parish of the domicile of the petitioner. (2) The juvenile court in the parish of the domicile of the custodian of the child. B. An attorney at law named as representative of the prospective adoptive parent shall not be deemed the legal custodian of the child for purposes of proper jurisdiction or venue. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.7 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.7. Persons whose consent is required

A. The parental rights of the parents of any child who has qualified as a foreign orphan or a convention adoptee are deemed to be terminated and no further consent to adoption or relinquishment of parental rights shall be required. B. Consent to the adoption shall be required of any custodial or supervisory agency which has placed the foreign orphan for adoption, except that the court may grant the adoption without the consent of an agency if the court finds that the adoption is in the best interest of the child and that the agency has unreasonably withheld its consent. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.8 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.8. Birth certificate requirement

A. Prior to the initiation of any adoption under the provisions of this Title, the attorney for the petitioners shall obtain a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, and, if the certificate is not in English, a certified translation of the certificate, which shall be attached to the petition for adoption. B. If a certified copy of the birth certificate and certified translation are not available, the court may make findings on the date, place of birth, and parentage of the adopted person in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:79(C)(2). Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1281.9 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1281.9. Persons who may petition for intercountry adoption

A United States citizen and his spouse who is a United States citizen or has lawful immigration status may petition jointly, or an unmarried United States citizen at least twenty-five years of age, may petition for intercountry adoption. At least one petitioner shall be a domiciliary of Louisiana. When one joint petitioner dies after the petition has been filed, the adoption proceedings may continue as though the survivor was a single original petitioner. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1282.1 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1282.1. Petition; contents; form

A. The petition for recognition of foreign adoption shall be styled: "In re __________, Applying for Recognition of Foreign Adoption from a Non-Hague Convention Country." The petition or an attached exhibit shall state: (1) The full name, address, age, occupation, and marital status of each petitioner, at least one of whom is a domiciliary of the state of Louisiana. (2) The name by which the child is known to petitioners. (3) The place and date of the birth of the child if known; if not known, then the approximate age of the child. (4) The date and circumstances under which the child was adopted in a foreign country and entered the home of the petitioner. (5) Any relationship existing between the petitioner and the child. B. The petition shall be accompanied by a certification for adoption, a certified copy of the documentation of orphan status, documentary proof of citizenship status, a copy of the child's immigrant visa or resident alien card, the original or a certified copy of a valid foreign adoption decree, together with a notarized translation, and the original or certified copy of a valid birth certificate, together with a notarized translation, and an affidavit of fees and expenses. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1282.2 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1282.2. Findings

The court shall issue a judgment recognizing the foreign adoption and rendering a final decree of adoption upon finding that: (1) At least one of the adopting parents is a domiciliary of the state of Louisiana. (2) The original or a certified copy of the foreign adoption decree, together with a notarized transcript, has been filed and is presumed to have been granted in accordance with the law of the foreign country. (3) The child has qualified as a foreign orphan and is in the United States in accordance with applicable federal regulations. (4) The child is either a permanent resident or a naturalized citizen of the United States. (5) The petitioners have the ability to care for, maintain, and educate the child. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1282.3 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1282.3. Final decree; notice; standard

A. The court, as a part of the final decree, shall provide notice of the provisions of R.S. 14:46.4 to the parties. B. The court, after taking into consideration all documents filed concerning the adoption, may enter a final decree of adoption, or it may deny recognition of the adoption. The basic consideration shall be the best interest of the child. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2014, No. 721, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1282.4 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1282.4. Effect of final decree

The final decree of adoption shall have the same force and effect as any final decree of adoption rendered by a court of this state. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1282.5 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1282.5. Change of name

The full name of the adopted child may be changed in the final decree of adoption and, if changed, the surname shall be the same as that of the adoptive parent. In accordance with R.S. 40:79, the clerk of court shall forward, on a form supplied by the Department of Children and Family Services, his certificate of the decree to the state registrar, who shall make a new certificate of live birth of the person adopted, in the new name if the name has been changed in the decree. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1283.1 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1283.1. Petition; contents; form

A. The petition for adoption of a foreign orphan shall be styled: "In re __________, Applying for Adoption of Foreign Orphan from a Non-Hague Convention Country." The petition or an attached exhibit shall state: (1) The full name, address, age, occupation, and marital status of each petitioner. (2) The name by which the child is known to petitioners as well as the name under which the birth of the child is recorded. (3) The place and date of the birth of the child if known; if not known, then the approximate age of the child. (4) The date and circumstances under which the child entered the home of the petitioner. (5) Any relationship existing between the petitioner and the child. B. The petition shall be accompanied by a certification for adoption, a certified copy of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services documentation of orphan status, a copy of the child's immigrant visa or permanent resident card, the original or a certified copy of a valid foreign custody decree, together with a notarized translation, and the original or certified copy of a valid birth certificate, together with a notarized translation, and an affidavit of fees and expenses. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1283.3 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1283.3. Adoption disclosure affidavit of fees and charges

A. Each petition for an adoption shall be accompanied by an affidavit executed by the petitioner and petitioner's attorney containing an accounting of fees and charges paid or agreed to be paid by or on behalf of the petitioner in connection with the adoption. B. The affidavit shall not include any identifying information as to the biological parents, their families, or the child's birth name. C. The form for the affidavit shall be as follows: "ADOPTION DISCLOSURE AFFIDAVIT BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally came and appeared __________ (petitioner) and __________ (attorney for petitioner), who, being first duly sworn, did depose and state: In the matter of the adoption by __________ (petitioner's name): (1) We report the following fees and charges, or other things of value given in connection with this adoption paid to any agency or individual: Actual Estimated due: Due or paid to: $ $ A. Agency administrative expenses: 1. Attorney fees 2. Court costs 3. Travel costs 4. Overhead 5. Other (Specify) B. Agency Mental Health Counseling expenses: 1. Counseling for adopting parents 2. Home study evaluations 3. Counseling for the child 4. Other (Specify) C. Medical expenses for biological mother: 1. Medical 2. Travel 3. Other (Specify) D. Medical/foster care expenses for child: 1. Medical 2. Travel 3. Other (Specify) E. Other expenses (Specify): (2) We certify that to the best of our knowledge no other fees, charges, or things of value other than court costs have been given or shall be given by anyone in connection with this adoption. (3) We declare that this disclosure statement has been examined by each of us and that its contents are true to the best of our information, knowledge, and belief. (4) We understand that each of us has a continuing obligation to supplement and amend this affidavit as necessary. (5) We understand that this information will be transmitted to the office of adoption services, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. We further understand that it may be released by written authorization of the court for purposes of a grand jury investigation pursuant to R.S. 14:286 or for an ethical investigation by the Committee on Professional Responsibility of the Louisiana State Bar Association. __________________________ ____________________________ Signature of Petitioner Signature of Attorney ____________________________ ____________________________ Address Address SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME ON THIS _____ DAY OF ______, ___. ____________________________ (NOTARY PUBLIC)" D. Confidentiality of information contained in the adoption disclosure affidavit shall be maintained as provided in Chapter 5 of Title XII of this Code, and shall be released only in accordance with this Article or on written authorization of the court for the purposes of a grand jury investigation of a violation of R.S. 14:286 or an ethical investigation by the Committee on Professional Responsibility of the Louisiana State Bar Association. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1.
LA Chil Code art. 1283.4 (2021)
2021 Louisiana Laws|Children's Code|Art. 1283.4. Service of process

A copy of the petition for adoption of a foreign orphan together with all exhibits shall be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the department and on any agency having legal custody of the child. Acts 1999, No. 1268, §1; Acts 2013, No. 86, §1.