Nevada § 127.186 - Adoption of child with special needs; financial assistance to adoptive parents under certain circumstances; waiver of court costs of adoptive parents; regulations

§ 127.186. Adoption of child with special needs; financial assistance to adoptive parents under certain circumstances; waiver of court costs of adoptive parents; regulations

1. The agency which provides child welfare services or a child-placing agency licensed

by the Division pursuant to this chapter may consent to the adoption of a child under

18 years of age with special needs due to race, age or physical or mental problems

who is in the custody of the agency which provides child welfare services or the licensed

agency by proposed adoptive parents when, in the judgment of the agency which provides

child welfare services or the child-placing agency, it would be in the best interests

of the child to be placed in that adoptive home. 2. The agency which provides child welfare services or child-placing agency, whichever

has custody of the child, shall in a timely and diligent manner: (a) Schedule any evaluations necessary to identify any special needs the child may

have. (b) If it determines that the child has any special needs: (1) Notify the proposed adoptive parents: (I) That they may be eligible for a grant of financial assistance pursuant to this

section; and (II) The manner in which to apply for such financial assistance; and (2) Assist the proposed adoptive parents in applying for and satisfying any other

prerequisites necessary to obtain a grant of financial assistance pursuant to this

section and any other relevant subsidies and services which may be available. 3. The agency which provides child welfare services may grant financial assistance

for attorney's fees in the adoption proceeding, for maintenance and for preexisting

physical or mental conditions to the adoptive parents of a child with special needs

out of money provided for that purpose if the head of the agency which provides child

welfare services or his or her designee has reviewed and approved in writing the grant

of financial assistance. 4. The grant of financial assistance must be limited, both as to amount and duration,

by agreement in writing between the agency which provides child welfare services and

the adoptive parents. Such an agreement must not become effective before the entry of the order of adoption. 5. Any grant of financial assistance must be reviewed and evaluated at least once

annually by the agency which provides child welfare services. The evaluation must be presented for approval to the head of the agency which provides

child welfare services or his or her designee. Financial assistance must be discontinued immediately upon written notification

to the adoptive parents by the agency which provides child welfare services that continued

assistance is denied. 6. All financial assistance provided under this section ceases immediately when the

child: (a) Reaches 18 years of age, if the child is not enrolled in school, or 19 years of

age, if the child is enrolled in school; (b) Graduates from high school, if the child is at least 18 years of age; (c) Becomes self-supporting; (d) Is emancipated; or (e) Dies. 7. Neither a grant of financial assistance pursuant to this section nor any discontinuance

of such assistance affects the legal status or respective obligations of any party

to the adoption. 8. A court shall waive all court costs of the proposed adoptive parents in an adoption

proceeding for a child with special needs if the agency which provides child welfare

services or child-placing agency consents to the adoption of such a child pursuant

to this section. 9. The Division, in consultation with each agency which provides child welfare services,

shall adopt regulations regarding eligibility for and the procedures for applying

for a grant of financial assistance pursuant to this section.