(1) LOCATING ADOPTIVE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE ELIGIBLE

TO RECEIVE STATE ASSISTANCE AND ASSURING THE PROTECTION OF THE
INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN AFFECTED DURING THE ENTIRE ASSISTANCE PERIOD
REQUIRES SPECIAL MEASURES WHEN THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS MOVE TO OTHER
STATES OR ARE RESIDENTS OF ANOTHER STATE; AND

(2) PROVIDING MEDICAL AND OTHER NECESSARY SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN, WITH STATE ASSISTANCE, IS MORE DIFFICULT WHEN THE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED IN OTHER STATES.

(B) THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBTITLE ARE TO:

(1) AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO INTERSTATE
AGREEMENTS WITH AGENCIES OF OTHER STATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF
CHILDREN ON WHOSE BEHALF ADOPTION ASSISTANCE IS BEING PROVIDED; AND

(2) PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR INTERSTATE ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
PAYMENTS, INCLUDING MEDICAL PAYMENTS.

5-4A-03.

(A) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY DEVELOP, PARTICIPATE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF, NEGOTIATE, AND ENTER INTO ONE OR MORE INTERSTATE
COMPACTS ON BEHALF OF THIS STATE WITH OTHER STATES TO IMPLEMENT ONE OR
MORE OF THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(B) WHEN ENTERED INTO, AND FOR SO LONG AS IT SHALL REMAIN IN FORCE,
THE COMPACT SHALL HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF LAW.

5-4A-04.

(A) A COMPACT ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO § 5-4A-03 OF THIS SUBTITLE
SHALL INCLUDE:

(1} A PROVISION MAKING THE COMPACT AVAILABLE FOR JOINDER BY
ALL STATES;

(2) A PROVISION FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COMPACT UPON
WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE PARTIES, BUT WITH A PERIOD OF 1 YEAR BETWEEN THE
DATE OF THE NOTICE AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE WITHDRAWAL;

(3) A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROTECTION AFFORDED BY OR
PURSUANT TO THE COMPACT CONTINUE IN FORCE FOR THE DURATION OF THE
ADOPTION ASSISTANCE AND BE APPLICABLE TO ALL CHILDREN AND THEIR
ADOPTIVE PARENTS WHO ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE WITHDRAWAL ARE
RECEIVING ADOPTION ASSISTANCE FROM A PARTY STATE OTHER THAN THE ONE IN
WHICH THEY ARE RESIDENTS AND HAVE THEIR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF ABODE; AND

(4) A REQUIREMENT THAT EACH INSTANCE OF ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
TO WHICH THE COMPACT APPLIES BE COVERED BY AN ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
AGREEMENT IN WRITING BETWEEN THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND THE STATE CHILD
WELFARE AGENCY OF THE STATE WHICH UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE THE ADOPTION
ASSISTANCE AND THAT THE ADOPTION ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT BE EXPRESSLY