A. The Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an ongoing program of adoption assistance for eligible special needs children in the legal custody of the Department or a federally recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Act, who are not eligible for federally funded adoption assistance benefits. Adoption assistance benefits under this program shall be provided out of funds appropriated to the Department for the maintenance of children in foster care or made available to it from other sources.
B. Adoption assistance benefits under this program may include Medicaid coverage, a monthly adoption assistance payment, reimbursement of nonrecurring adoption expenses, special services, or any combination of such benefits.
C. To comply with 42 U.S.C., Section 471(a)(14) of the Social Security Act and 45 C.F.R., Section 1356.21(n), the Department shall limit the number of children under the responsibility of the Department, who remain in substitute care for a period over twenty-four (24) months, to no more than thirty percent (30%) of the children in care during any fiscal year.
Added by Laws 1982, c. 200, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 297, § 13, emerg. eff. June 10, 1996. Renumbered from § 60.27 of this title by Laws 1997, c. 366, § 59, eff. Nov. 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 415, § 37, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998; Laws 2002, c. 445, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2008, c. 159, § 5, emerg. eff. May 12, 2008.