Petri Sponsored Bill Aims to Smooth Adoption Process

Northampton-based State Representative (R-178) is sponsoring a new house bill which would make it easier for people seeking to adopt a child from Pennsylvania to do so.

If passed, the bill would reduce the window of time birth parents are given to revoke adoption consent from 30 days to just 20 days, according to the representative's office.

In addition, the bill would “terminate parental rights when a parent has committed certain sexual offenses, or other severe forms of abuse against their child or another child living in the parent's household,” according to a press release.

If the biological parents of the child can not be located after a reasonable search, the bill would allow the court to publish notice for the termination of rights proceeding in an effort to inform the parents.

Pennsylvania's current adoption laws can be cumbersome and make those looking to adopt search outside of the state, Petri said in a statement. The bill, House Bill 451, hopes to make it easier for the over 800 kids in the state waiting to be adopted find a new family.

“Our adoption laws are very outdated and actually discourage a lot of people from adopting children in Pennsylvania,” according to the state representative.

Petri added the waiting period is too long.

“We have found that many adoptive parents are unwilling to risk losing a child once they have bonded with the child.”

The new bill, which was approved last week in the House of Representative's Children and Youth Committee, is on its way to the floor of the House for consideration.

Petri’s 178th district represents Ivyland, Northampton, Warwick, Wrightstown, Upper Makefield and Upper Southampton.