(b) In determining the best interests of the adoptee, the court shall consider and evaluate the following factors to give the adoptee a permanent home at the earliest possible date:

(1) The love, affection and other emotional ties existing between the adoptee and the adopting person or persons, the biological parent or biological parents or the any putative father parent;

(2) The capacity and disposition of the adopting person or persons, the biological parent or biological parents or the any putative father parent to educate and give the adoptee love, affection and guidance and to meet the needs of the adoptee. An adoption may not be delayed or denied because the adoptive parent and the child do not share the same race, color or national origin; and

(3) The capacity and disposition of the adopting person or persons, the biological parent or biological parents or the any putative father parent to provide the adoptee with food, clothing and other material needs, education, permanence and medical care or other remedial care recognized and permitted in place of medical care under the laws of this State.

Sec. D-15. 18-A MRSA §9-308, sub-§(d), as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

(d) Upon completion of an adoption proceeding, the biological parents who consented to an adoption or who executed a surrender and release must be notified of the completion by regular mail at their last known address. Notice under this subsection is not required to a biological parent who is also a petitioner. When the biological parents' rights have been terminated pursuant to Title 22, section 4055, the notice must be given to the department and the department shall notify the biological parents of the completion by regular mail at their last known address. Actual receipt of the notice is not a precondition of completion and does not affect the rights or responsibilities of adoptees or adoptive parents.

Sec. D-16. 18-A MRSA §9-315, sub-§(b), as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

(b) Notice of a petition to annul must be given to the biological persons who were the adoptee's parents prior to the