I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6027 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 26, 2012 Mr. Sires (for himself, Ms. Hahn, and Mr. Manzullo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To provide for universal intercountry adoption accreditation standards, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012.

2.

Universal accreditation requirements

(a)

In general

The provisions of title II and section 404 of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14901 et seq.), and related implementing regulations, shall apply to any person offering or providing adoption services in connection with a child described in section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)(F)), to the same extent as they apply to the offering or provision of adoption services in connection with a Convention adoption. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General (with respect to section 404(b) of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14944)), and the accrediting entities shall have the duties, responsibilities, and authorities under title II and title IV of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 and related implementing regulations with respect to a person offering or providing such adoption services, irrespective of whether such services are offered or provided in connection with a Convention adoption. (b)

Effective date

The provisions of this section shall take effect 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, but shall not apply to any case in which, as of such effective date— (1)a petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative is pending or has been approved; or (2)an application for advance processing of orphan petition is pending or has been approved and such approval has not expired.

3.

Availability of collected fees for accrediting entities

Section 403 of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14943) is amended by striking subsection (c).

4.

Definitions

In this Act, the terms accrediting entity, adoption service, Convention adoption, and person have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14902).