JEFFERSON CITY — A proposal to help would-be adoptive parents afford adoption costs was considered by a panel of state lawmakers Tuesday.
Under the , a “zero-cost adoption fund†would be set up to reimburse adoption costs, “promote adoption and recruit potential adoptive families,†and “support community-based intervention methods to prevent children from entering into foster care.â€
The Department of Social Services would administer the fund, which would be housed in the state treasurer’s office.
Those who contribute to the adoption fund would be able to claim a tax credit equal to the amount of their contribution.
The House Children and Families committee discussed the plan with bill sponsor Rep. Brad Christ, R-south ºüÀêÊÓƵ County.
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“Our children are our biggest investment,†said Rep. Wendy Hausman, a St. Peters Republican. “Our families are the basic, fundamental foundation of our state.... When we start investing in our families and our children, our state’s gonna do so much better.â€
“I’m going to support this bill wholeheartedly,†said Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Ferguson Democrat.
“Everybody knows my favorite Bible Scripture is ... ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,’†Proudie added later.
“T³ó¾±²õ will take a lot of people aback,†Proudie said. But when you consider the other ways the state subsidizes foster care and adoption, it could be viewed as a reallocation of state funds.
Christ said he thinks proposal would be, if not a wash, “a net positive for the state.â€
Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka, said that she liked measure and has considered fostering or adopting herself.
But, she later added, “I don’t love tax credits. I’m never shy about saying that.â€
To put her support behind the bill, Jones said she needs more information related to the fiscal analysis and how the program would work.
“I appreciate this. I’m actually super-excited about it. And I never say that about tax credits,†she said.
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