ENTITLED An Act to modify the requirement for payment of a private home study by the Department of Social Services.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 25-6-9.1 be AMENDED:

25-6-9.1. A person may not place a child in a home for adoption until a home study has been completed by a licensed child placement agency, as defined in § 26-6-14, the Department of Social Services, or a certified social worker eligible to engage in private independent practice, as defined in § 36-26-17. Any person who submitted home studies under this section or under § 26-4-15 prior to July 1, 1990, may continue to submit home study reports without meeting the above requirements.

A home study must include a fingerprint-based criminal record check completed by the Division of Criminal Investigation and a central registry screening completed by the department.

A child who is in the custody of the department may not be placed in a home for adoption until a fingerprint-based criminal record check has been completed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for each adopting parent.

The department shall contribute one thousand five hundred dollars towards the cost of each home study required under this section. The necessary funding must be budgeted and expended through the general appropriation bill, pursuant to chapter 4-7.

Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

An Act to modify the requirement for payment of a private home study by the Department of Social Services.

I certify that the attached Act originated in the: House as Bill No. 1005 Chief Clerk Speaker of the House Attest: Chief Clerk President of the Senate Attest: Secretary of the Senate House Bill No. 1005 File No. ____ Chapter No. ______

Received at this Executive Office this _____ day of _____________, 2025 at ____________M. By for the Governor The attached Act is hereby approved this ________ day of ______________, A.D., 2025 Governor STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, ss. Office of the Secretary of State Filed ____________, 2025 at _________ o'clock __M. Secretary of State By Asst. Secretary of State