Governor signs adoption changes into law

ATLANTA (AP) — On Monday, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed an adoption bill into law, revamping the state’s adoption process for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The bill makes numerous technical changes to the state’s adoption code, last updated before widespread use of the internet.

Proponents of the measure, which passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support last month, say it will streamline Georgia’s adoption process.

The new law takes out some waiting periods so that newborns and foster children can find their permanent homes more quickly.

One change reduces the length of time a birth mother has to change her mind and take back custody of a baby from 10 days to four. Another makes it possible for adoptive parents to help a birth mother with certain living expenses in private adoptions.

However, it does not contain the provision providing legal protections to adoption agencies that decline to work with same-sex couples.

That’s a different measure still being debated by the General Assembly.