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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 514. Reimbursement for adoption expenses
(a) Authorization To Reimburse. - The Secretary shall carry out a
program under which a member of the Coast Guard may be reimbursed,
as provided in this section, for qualifying adoption expenses
incurred by the member in the adoption of a child under 18 years of
age.
(b) Adoptions Covered. - An adoption for which expenses may be
reimbursed under this section includes an adoption by a single
person, an infant adoption, an intercountry adoption, and an
adoption of a child with special needs (as defined in section
473(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(c))).
(c) Benefits Paid After Adoption Is Final. - Benefits paid under
this section in the case of an adoption may be paid only after the
adoption is final.
(d) Treatment of Other Benefits. - A benefit may not be paid
under this section for any expense paid to or for a member of the
Coast Guard under any other adoption benefits program administered
by the Federal Government or under any such program administered by
a State or local government.
(e) Limitations. - (1) Not more than $2,000 may be paid under
this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members
who are spouses of each other, for expenses incurred in the
adoption of a child.
(2) Not more than $5,000 may be paid under this section to a
member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses
of each other, for adoptions by such member (or members) in any
calendar year.
(f) Regulations. - The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to
carry out this section.
(g) Definitions. - In this section:
(1) The term "qualifying adoption expenses" means reasonable
and necessary expenses that are directly related to the legal
adoption of a child under 18 years of age, but only if such
adoption is arranged by a qualified adoption agency. Such term
does not include any expense incurred -
(A) by an adopting parent for travel; or
(B) in connection with an adoption arranged in violation of
Federal, State, or local law.
(2) The term "reasonable and necessary expenses" includes -
(A) public and private agency fees, including adoption fees
charged by an agency in a foreign country;
(B) placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents
for counseling;
(C) legal fees (including court costs) in connection with
services that are unavailable to a member of the Coast Guard
under section 1044 or 1044a of title 10; and
(D) medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the
biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn
infant to be adopted.
(3) The term "qualified adoption agency" means any of the
following:
(A) A State or local government agency which has
responsibility under State or local law for child placement
through adoption.
(B) A nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is
authorized by State or local law to place children for
adoption.
(C) Any other source authorized by a State to provide
adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court
under State or local law.
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