The bill amends South Dakota's law regarding the requirements for conducting home studies prior to placing a child for adoption. It specifies that a home study must be completed by a licensed child placement agency, the Department of Social Services, or a certified social worker. Additionally, it allows individuals who submitted home studies before July 1, 1990, to continue submitting reports without adhering to the new requirements. The bill also mandates that a home study includes a fingerprint-based criminal record check and a central registry screening, and it prohibits the placement of a child in a home for adoption until a fingerprint-based criminal record check has been completed by the FBI for each adopting parent.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a provision that the Department of Social Services will contribute $1,500 towards the cost of each home study required under this section, with the necessary funding to be budgeted through the general appropriation bill. Violations of this section are classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 12/27/2024: 25-6-9.1
House Appropriations Engrossed, 02/24/2025: 25-6-9.1
House Engrossed, 02/25/2025: 25-6-9.1
Enrolled, 03/11/2025: 25-6-9.1