LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT PREDATORY ADOPTION PRACTICES IN OUR STATE Increasingly over the last ten years, New Mexico residents are being drawn into illegal, risky and expensive adoption processes by out of state facilitators or multi-state adoption businesses and agencies. Members of the Alliance reviewed legislation from other states and drafted proposed legislation to restrict predatory adoption practices by out of state entities in our state and worked on passing similar legislation in New Mexico to help restore ethical adoption practice here. Our first effort in 2009 was directed at prohibiting advertising by those adoption businesses that are not legally permitted to provide adoption services within New Mexico. New Mexicans that view this advertising in local news papers, telephone directories and radio stations cannot distinguish between those that can legally provide services in our state and those that are not legitimate. We drafted and lobbied hard for more comprehensive legislation in House Bills 125 (adoption services) and 158 (adoption advertising). Go to www.nmlegis.gov to view these bills. On the last day of the session our bills were next to be voted upon on the Senate floor when a filibuster prevented them from being heard and voted upon. We are hopeful, however, that our restoring ethical adoption legislation will be heard in a special session later this year. The Alliances thanks the sponsor of these bills, Representative Al Park and Senator John Ryan for their efforts to restore ethical adoption practice in our state.

Home History/Advocacy Meeting Times & Location Professional Affilates Recent Projects Contact Us