CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

Bill 20-898, Adoption Fee Amendment Act of 2014

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces the scheduling of a public hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Bill 20-898, Adoption Fee Amendment Act of 2014.  The hearing will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building.

The stated purpose of Bill 20-898 is to regulate the placing of children in family homes and for other purposes, to allow for reasonable fees for the transportation and living expenses of the birth mother, to allow for payment of the actual costs of the medical and legal expenses of the birth mother, to raise the fee cap for child-placing agencies to $10,000, and to clarify the 14 calendar day right of revocation for parents relinquishing parental rights.

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or email Taneka Miller, Legislative Counsel, at tmiller@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Monday, October 27, 2014.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on Monday, October 27, 2014 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.  A copy of Bill 20-898 can be obtained through the Legislative Services Division of the Secretary of the Council’s office or on http://lims.dccouncil.us.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on November 12, 2014.