Ohio § 5103.17

§ 5103.17.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Advertise ” means a method of communication that is electronic, written, visual, or oral and

made by means of personal representation, newspaper, magazine, circular, billboard,

direct mailing, sign, radio, television, telephone, or otherwise. (2) “ Qualified adoptive parent ” means a person who is eligible to adopt a child under section 3107.03 of the Revised Code and for whom an assessor has conducted a home study to determine whether the person

is suitable to adopt a child, if required by section 3107.031 of the Revised Code . (B) Subject to section 5103.16 of the Revised Code and to division (C), (D), or (E) of this section, no person or government entity,

other than a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency certified

by the department of children and youth under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code or a public children services agency, shall advertise that the person or government

entity will adopt children or place them in foster homes, hold out inducements to

parents to part with their offspring or in any manner knowingly become a party to

the separation of a child from the child's parents or guardians, except through a

juvenile court or probate court commitment. (C) The biological parent of a child may advertise the availability for placement of

the parent's child for adoption to a qualified adoptive parent. (D) A qualified adoptive parent may advertise that the qualified adoptive parent is available

for placement of a child into the qualified adoptive parent's care for the purpose

of adopting the child. (E) A government entity may advertise about its role in the placement of children for

adoption or any other information that would be relevant to qualified adoptive parents. (F) Except as provided in section 3107.055 of the Revised Code , the following apply: (1) No person shall offer money or anything of value in exchange for placement of a child

for adoption. (2) No biological parent may request money or anything of value in exchange for placement

for adoption of the parent's child with a qualified adoptive parent. (G) If the department of children and youth has reasonable cause to believe a violation

of this section has been committed, the department shall notify the attorney general

or the county prosecutor, city attorney, village solicitor, or other chief legal officer

of the political subdivision in which the violation has allegedly occurred.  On receipt of the notification, the attorney general, county prosecutor, city attorney,

village solicitor, or other chief legal officer shall take action to enforce this

section through injunctive relief or criminal charge.