Sale of child -- Felony -- Payment of adoption related expenses.

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  • (1) For purposes of this section:
    • (a) "Adoption related expenses" means expenses that:
      • (i) are reasonably related to the adoption of a child;
      • (ii) are incurred for a reasonable amount; and
      • (iii) may include expenses:
        • (A) of the mother or father of the child being adopted, including:
          • (I) legal expenses;
          • (II) maternity expenses;
          • (III) medical expenses;
          • (IV) hospital expenses;
          • (V) counseling expenses;
          • (VI) temporary living expenses and lost wages during the pregnancy of the mother for up to eight weeks after the day on which the mother delivers the child; or
          • (VII) expenses for travel between the mother's or father's home and the location where the child will be born or placed for adoption;
        • (B) of a directly affected person for:
          • (I) travel between the directly affected person's home and the location where the child will be born or placed for adoption; or
          • (II) temporary living expenses during the pregnancy or confinement of the mother; or
        • (C) other than those included in Subsection (1)(a)(iii)(A) or (B), that are not made for the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal guardian of a child to:
          • (I) place the child for adoption;
          • (II) consent to an adoption; or
          • (III) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.
    • (b) "Directly affected person" means a person who is:
      • (i) a parent or guardian of a minor when the minor is the mother or father of the child being adopted;
      • (ii) a dependent of:
        • (A) the mother or father of the child being adopted; or
        • (B) the parent or guardian described in Subsection (1)(b)(i); or
      • (iii) the spouse or partner of the mother or father of the child being adopted.
  • (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of a third degree felony if the person:
    • (a) while having custody, care, control, or possession of a child, sells, or disposes of the child, or attempts or offers to sell or dispose of the child, for and in consideration of the payment of money or another thing of value; or
    • (b) offers, gives, or attempts to give money or another thing of value to a person, with the intent to induce or encourage a person to violate Subsection (2)(a).
  • (3) A person does not violate this section by paying or receiving payment for adoption related expenses, if:
    • (a) the expenses are paid as an act of charity; and
    • (b) the payment is not made for the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal guardian of a child to:
      • (i) place the child for adoption;
      • (ii) consent to an adoption; or
      • (iii) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.




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