The Interethnic Provisions of 1996 - P.L. 104-188
Date: August 1996
Overview
H.R. 3448
Enacted August 20, 1996
Major Provisions of the Act
- Established the title IV-E State plan requirement that States and other entities that receive funds from the Federal Government and are involved in foster care or adoption placements may not deny any individual the opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent based upon the race, color, or national origin of the parent or the child
- Established the title IV-E State plan requirement that States and other entities that receive funds from the Federal Government and that are involved in foster care or adoption placements may not delay or deny a child's foster care or adoptive placement based upon the race, color, or national origin of the parent or the child
- Strengthened the diligent recruitment requirement in the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) by making it a title IV-B State plan requirement
- Established a system of graduated financial penalties for States that do not comply with the title IV-E State plan requirement established under this law
- Repealed language in MEPA that allowed States and other entities to consider the cultural, ethnic, or racial background of a child, as well as the capacity of the prospective parent to meet the needs of such a child
- Allowed an individual taxpayer to claim a tax credit for the amount of the qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred by the individual (not to exceed $5,000, or $6,000 in the case of a child with special needs)