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Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 2 Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
1. One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;
2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
3. Two members representing adoptees, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
4. Two members representing adoptive parents, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
5. Two members representing birth parents, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
6. Two members representing adoption agencies or other entities providing adoption services, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
7. One member representing sexual assault victim advocacy service providers; and
8. One member representing probate courts and probate registers, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and be it further’
Amend the resolve in section 3 in the first line (page 2, line 2 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "That the" the following: 'first-named'
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 5 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 5 Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall conduct a review of adoption laws and practices and propose a comprehensive public policy addressing the issues involved in adoption laws and practices.
1. The task force shall:
A. Identify laws that relate to adoption;
B. Identify court jurisdiction over adoption-related issues;
C. Review paternity issues;
D. Consider appropriate accessibility to birth and family information, consistent with existing and proposed federal requirements and identity theft concerns;
E. Determine the relation of the “safe haven” law to adoption issues;
F. Identify all interests affected by adoption laws and practices;
G. Review trends in other states concerning adoption laws and practices;
H. Propose an adoption public policy blueprint; and
I. Draft a comprehensive revision of all adoption laws consistent with the adoption public policy blueprint.
2. The task force may:
A. Establish a non-voting advisory stakeholders group to help identify interests and issues that should be included in the discussion and to help formulate the public policy blueprint and the comprehensive revision of adoption laws consistent with the blueprint;
B. Hold informational sessions and discussions with experts, interested parties and practitioners; and
C. Hold a public hearing in Augusta; and be it further’
Amend the resolve by striking out all of sections 7 to 10 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 7 Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 5, 2007, the task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary. Pursuant to Joint Rule 353, the task force is not authorized to introduce legislation. Upon receipt of the report required by this section, the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary may, pursuant to Joint Rule 353, introduce a bill during the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature to implement its recommendations on matters relating to the study.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment revises the membership of the task force to consist of a total of 13 members: 3 Legislators, 2 members representing adoptees, 2 members representing birth parents, 2 members representing adoptive parents, 2 members representing adoption agencies, one member representing sexual assault victims' services providers and one member representing Probate Courts and probate registers. This task force may establish a non-voting advisory stakeholders group to provide advice to the task force. This amendment also makes revisions consistent with the requirements of Joint Rule 353.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)