,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ajfi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #bc1 #bjac ,mrs4  
,gillibr& 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,s*um]1 ,ms4  
,w>r51 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 ,mr4  
,frank51 & ,mr4 ,laut5b]g7 introduc$ !  
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,f9ance  ,a ,,bill   
,to prohibit discrim9ation 9 adoption or
 fo/] c>e placem5ts bas$ on ! sexual    
ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or m>ital     
/atus ( any prospective adoptive or fo/]
 p>5t1 or ! sexual ori5tation or g5d]   
id5tity ( ! *ild involv$4  #a4 ,%ort    
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,e ,*ild
 ,des]ves a ,family ,act4  #b4          
,congressional f9d+s & purposes  7a7    
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7   
,!re is a %ortage ( qualifi$ individuals
 will+ to adopt or fo/] a *ild 9 ! *ild 
welf>e sy/em4 ,z a result1 ?\s&s ( fo/] 
*ildr5 lack a p]man5t & safe home4  7#b7
 ,9 ord] to op5 m homes to fo/] *ildr51 
*ild welf>e ag5cies %\ld "w to elim9ate 
sexual ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 &      

m>ital /atus discrim9ation & bias 9     
adoption & fo/] c>e recruitm5t1         
selection1 & placem5t proc$ures4  7#c7  
,( ! e/imat$ #djj1jjj *ildr5 9 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates fo/] c>e sy/em1 m ?an #ajd1jjj _c
 return to _! orig9al families & are    
legally free = adoption4  7,a7 #ej1eaf  
*ildr5 7 adopt$ 9 #bjaa1 :ile #bf1bhf   
y\? ag$ out ( ! fo/] c>e sy/em4  7,b7   
,rese>* %[s t y\? :o age out ( ! fo/]   
c>e sy/em are at a high risk = pov]ty1  
homelessness1 inc>c]ation1 & e>ly       
p>5?ood4  7,c7 ,increas+ adoption rates1
 9 addition to e/abli%+ p]man5cy &      
decreas+ risk factors = fo/] y\?1 c     
yield annual national co/ sav+s betwe5  
#c1cjj1jjj1jjj & #f1cjj1jjj1jjj4  7#d7  
,exp]ts agree t 9 _m ,/ates1 lesbian1   
gay1 bisexual1 & transg5d] y\? exp]i5ce 
discrim9ation1 h>assm5t1 & viol5ce 9 !  
fo/] c>e sy/em because ( _! sexual      
ori5tation or g5d] id5tity4  7#e7       
,approximately #fj p]c5t ( homeless     
lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 & transg5d] y\? 
7 previ\sly 9 fo/] c>e4 ,accord+ to !   

,urban ,ju/ice ,c5t]1 _m ( ^! "y p      
report$ t liv+ on ! /reets felt saf] ?an
 liv+ 9 _! gr\p or fo/] home4  7#f7     
,accord+ to ! ,williams ,in/itute1 an   
e/imat$ #ai p]c5t ( same-sex c\ple      
h\seholds include *ildr5 "u #ah ye>s (  
age4  7#g7 ,! ,williams ,in/itute       
e/imates t #c1jjj1jjj lesbian1 gay1     
bisexual1 & transg5d] p h _h a *ild & z 
_m z #f1jjj1jjj ,am]ican adults & *ildr5
 h a lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 or         
transg5d] p>5t4 ,among adults "u #ej    
ye>s ( age liv+ alone or ) a sp\se or   
p>tn]1 #dh p]c5t ( lesbian1 bisexual1 or
 transg5d] wom5 are rais+ a *ild "u #ah 
ye>s ( age1 & #bj p]c5t ( gay1 bisexual1
 or transg5d] m5 are do+ s4  7#h7 ,z (  
#bjac1 same-sex c\ples are rais+ #a4d   
p]c5t ( adopt$ *ildr5 ) #b p>5ts & are  
fo/]+ #a4g p]c5t ( fo/] *ildr5 liv+ ) #b
 p>5ts4 ,a #bjjg report f ! ,williams   
,in/itute f\nd t an additional          
#b1jjj1jjj gay1 lesbian1 & bisexual     
individuals are int]e/$ 9 adoption4     
7#i7 ,accord+ to ! ,williams            

,in/itute_/,urban ,in/itute1 same-sex   
c\ples rais+ adopt$ *ildr5 t5d to be    
old] ?an1 j z educat$ z1 & h access to !
 same economic res\rces z o!r adoptive  
p>5ts4 ,/udies confirm t *ildr5 )       
same-sex p>5ts h ! same advantages &    
same expectations = heal?1 social1 &    
psy*ological adju/m5t1 & developm5t z   
*ildr5 ^: p>5ts are het]osexual4  7#aj7 
,an ,evan ,b4 ,donaldson ,adoption      
,in/itute /udy f\nd t #a_/c ( *ild      
welf>e ag5cies 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates reject 
gay1 lesbian1 & bisexual applicants4    
7,a7 ,! practice ( prohibit+ applicants 
f becom+ fo/] p>5ts or adopt+ *ildr5    
solely on ! basis ( sexual ori5tation or
 m>ital /atus has result$ 9 r$uc+ !     
numb] ( qualifi$ adoptive & fo/] p>5ts  
ov]all & d5y+ gay1 lesbian1 bisexual1 & 
unm>ri$ relatives ! opportunity to      
become fo/] p>5ts = _! own k91 includ+  
gr&*ildr51 or to adopt _! own k91       
includ+ gr&*ildr51 f fo/] c>e4  7,b7    
,accord+ to ! ,williams ,in/itute1 m ?an
 #c1djj *ildr5 are curr5tly 9 fo/]      

placem5ts ) same-sex c\ples4 ,ano!r     
#bb1jjj *ildr5 are be+ rais$ by same-sex
 adoptive c\ples4 ,if o!r ,/ates foll[$ 
! m9ority ( ,/ates & discrim9at$ aga9/  
qualifi$ individuals because ( _! sexual
 ori5tation or m>ital /atus1 fo/] c>e   
exp5ditures w\ld increase betwe5        
#hg1jjj1jjj & #acj1jjj1jjj p] ye> 9 ord]
 to pay = additional in/itutional & gr\p
 c>e1 z well z to recruit & tra9 new    
fo/] & adoptive p>5ts4  7#aa7 ,"s ,/ates
 all[ #a memb] ( a same-sex c\ple to    
adopt1 b d n recognize bo? memb]s ( !   
c\ple z ! *ild's legal p>5ts4           
,recognition ( jo9t adoption provides   
*ildr5 ) ! same rights & security t     
*ildr5 ( het]osexual p>5ts enjoy4 ,^!   
protections include access to bo? p>5ts'
 heal? b5efits1 survivor's1 ,social     
,security1 & *ild support entitlem5ts1  
legal gr\nds = ei!r p>5t to provide     
cons5t = m$ical c>e1 education1 & o!r   
important decisions1 z well z !         
e/abli%m5t ( p]man5cy = p>5ts & *ild4   
7#ab7 ,pr(essional organizations 9 !    

fields ( m$ic9e1 psy*ology1 law1 & *ild 
welf>e h tak5 (ficial positions 9       
support ( ! ability ( qualifi$ gay1     
lesbian1 bisexual1 & unm>ri$ c\ples to  
fo/] & adopt a *ild1 z support$ by      
sci5tific rese>* %[+ sexual ori5tation z
 a nondet]m9ative factor 9 p>5tal       
success4  7#ac7 ,discrim9ation aga9/    
pot5tial fo/] or adoptive p>5ts bas$ on 
sexual ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or     
m>ital /atus is n 9 ! be/ int]e/s (     
*ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em4  7b7         
,purposes ,! purposes ( ?is ,act are to 
decrease ! l5g? ( "t t *ildr5 wait =    
p]man5cy ) a lov+ family & to promote ! 
be/ int]e/s ( *ildr5 9 ! *ild welf>e    
sy/em by prev5t+ discrim9ation 9        
adoption & fo/] c>e placem5ts bas$ on   
sexual ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or     
m>ital /atus4  #c4 ,e *ild des]ves a    
family  7a7 ,activities  7#a7           
,prohibition ,an entity t receives      
,f$]al assi/ance or contracts ) an      
entity t receives ,f$]al assi/ance1 & is
 involv$ 9 adoption or fo/] c>e         

placem5ts may n--  7,a7 d5y to any p]son
 ! opportunity to become an adoptive or 
a fo/] p>5t on ! basis ( ! sexual       
ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or m>ital     
/atus ( ! p]son1 or ! sexual ori5tation 
or g5d] id5tity ( ! *ild involv$2  7,b7 
delay or d5y ! placem5t ( a *ild =      
adoption or into fo/] c>e on ! basis ( !
 sexual ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or    
m>ital /atus ( any prospective adoptive 
or fo/] p>5t1 or ! sexual ori5tation or 
g5d] id5tity ( ! *ild2 or  7,c7 require 
diff]5t or additional scre5+s1          
processes1 or proc$ures = adoptive or   
fo/] placem5t decisions on ! basis ( !  
sexual ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or     
m>ital /atus ( ! prospective adoptive or
 fo/] p>5t1 or ! sexual ori5tation or   
g5d] id5tity ( ! *ild involv$4  7#b7    
,def9ition ( placem5t decision ,9 ?is   
section1 ! t]m placem5t decision means !
 decision to place1 or to delay or d5y !
 placem5t (1 a *ild 9 a fo/] c>e or an  
adoptive home1 & includes ! decision ( !
 ag5cy or entity involv$ to seek !      

t]m9ation ( bir? p>5t rights or o!rwise 
make a *ild legally available = adoptive
 placem5t4  7b7 ,equitable relief ,any  
individual :o is aggriev$ by an action 9
 violation ( subsection 7a7 may br+ an  
action seek+ relief 9 a ,unit$ ,/ates   
di/rict c\rt ( appropriate jurisdiction4
  7c7 ,f$]al guidance ,n lat] ?an #f    
mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices 
%all publi% guidance to conc]n$ entities
 ) respect to compliance ) ?is section4 
7d7 ,te*nical assi/ance ,9 ord] to      
ensure compliance )1 & ensure und]/&+ ( 
! legal1 practice1 & culture *anges     
requir$ by1 ?is ,act 9 mak+ fo/] c>e &  
adoption placem5t decisions1 ! ,secret>y
 %all provide te*nical assi/ance to all 
entities cov]$ by ?is ,act1 includ+--   
7#a7 id5tify+ laws & regulations        
inconsi/5t ) ?is ,act & provid+ guidance
 & tra9+ to ensure ! laws & regulations 
are br\ght into compliance )9 !         
prescrib$ p]iod ( "t2  7#b7 id5tify+    
casework practices & proc$ures          

inconsi/5t ) ?is ,act & provid+ guidance
 & tra9+ to ensure ! practices &        
proc$ures are br\ght into compliance )9 
! prescrib$ p]iod ( "t2  7#c7 provid+   
guidance 9 expansion ( recruitm5t ef=ts 
to ensure consid]ation ( all int]e/$ &  
qualifi$ prospective adoptive & fo/]    
p>5ts reg>dless ( ! sexual ori5tation1  
g5d] id5tity1 or m>ital /atus ( !       
prospective p>5t2  7#d7 compreh5sive    
cultural compet5cy tra9+ = cov]$        
entities & prospective adoptive & fo/]  
p>5ts2 &  7#e7 tra9+ judges & attorneys 
involv$ 9 fo/] c>e & adoption cases on !
 f9d+s & purposes ( ?is ,act4  7e7      
,deadl9e = compliance  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    
,except z provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 an   
entity t receives ,f$]al assi/ance & is 
involv$ ) adoption or fo/] c>e placem5ts
 %all comply ) ?is section n lat] ?an #f
 mon?s aft] publication ( ! guidance    
ref]r$ to 9 subsection 7c71 or #a ye>   
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1      
:i*ev] occurs fir/4  7#b7 ,au?ority to  
ext5d deadl9e ,if a ,/ate demon/rates to

 ! satisfaction ( ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? &
 ,human ,s]vices t x is necess>y to am5d
 ,/ate /atutory law 9 ord] to *ange a   
p>ticul> practice t is inconsi/5t ) ?is 
section1 ! ,secret>y may ext5d !        
compliance date = ! ,/ate & any entities
 9 ! ,/ate t are involv$ ) adoption or  
fo/] c>e placem5ts a reasonable numb] ( 
days aft] ! close ( ! #a/ ,/ate         
legislative session beg9n+ aft] ! date !
 guidance ref]r$ to 9 subsection 7c7 is 
publi%$4  7#c7 ,au?ority to )hold funds 
,if a ,/ate fails to comply ) ?is       
section1 ! ,secret>y may )hold paym5t to
 ! ,/ate ( am\nts o!rwise payable to !  
,/ate "u "p ,b or ,e ( title ,,iv ( !   
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#fba et seq41 #fgj et seq471 to ! ext5t 
! ,secret>y deems ! )hold+ necess>y to  
induce ! ,/ate into compliance ) ?is    
section4  7f7 ,,gao /udy  7#a7 ,9 g5]al 
,n lat] ?an #e ye>s aft] ! date (       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll]      
,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all conduct a 
/udy to det]m9e :e!r ! ,/ates h         

sub/antially compli$ ) ?is ,act1 includ+
 specifically :e!r ! ,/ates h--  7,a7   
elim9at$ policies1 practices1 or /atutes
 t d5y to any o!rwise qualifi$ p]son !  
opportunity to become an adoptive or    
fo/] p>5t on ! basis ( ! sexual         
ori5tation1 g5d] id5tity1 or m>ital     
/atus ( ! p]son1 or ! sexual ori5tation 
or g5d] id5tity ( ! *ild involv$2  7,b7 
remov$ all program1 policy1 or /atutory 
b>ri]s t delay or d5y ! placem5t ( a    
*ild = adoption or into fo/] c>e on !   
basis ( ! sexual ori5tation1 g5d]       
id5tity1 or m>ital /atus ( any qualifi$1
 prospective adoptive or fo/] p>5t1 or !
 sexual ori5tation or g5d] id5tity ( !  
*ild2 &  7,c7 elim9at$ all diff]5t or   
additional scre5+s1 processes1 or       
proc$ures = adoptive or fo/] placem5t   
decisions bas$ on ! sexual ori5tation1  
g5d] id5tity1 or m>ital /atus ( !       
prospective adoptive or fo/] p>5t1 or ! 
sexual ori5tation or g5d] id5tity ( !   
*ild involv$4  7#b7 ,report to !        
congress ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft]        

complet+ ! /udy requir$ by p>agraph     
7#a71 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al %all submit  
to ,congress a writt5 report t conta9s !
 results ( ! /udy4