The bill amends Section 600.8 of the Iowa Code to allow for the waiver of preplacement investigations and reports in certain adoption proceedings. Specifically, it permits a juvenile court to waive these requirements if the adoption petitioner is the current legal guardian of the person to be adopted and has maintained that guardianship for at least 36 consecutive months prior to filing the adoption petition. This change expands the criteria for waiving investigations beyond just relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity, which was the only condition allowed under current law.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if an adoption petitioner has a criminal conviction or founded child abuse report, they must inform the court before the final adoption hearing, and the court will then decide whether to waive the required investigation or report. The amendments also clarify the circumstances under which investigations and reports are not required, including cases where the person to be adopted is an adult or when the petitioner is a stepparent. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the adoption process while ensuring necessary safeguards are in place.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 600.8