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

The Department of Social Services must now contribute $1,500 toward the cost of each home study required under the section, with funding through the general appropriations act.

Home studies must include fingerprint-based criminal record checks completed by the Division of Criminal Investigation and central registry screenings completed by the Department of Social Services.

For children in Department of Social Services custody, fingerprint-based criminal record checks must be completed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for each adopting parent.

The Department of Social Services must establish rules to cap the cost reimbursement for home studies.

Changed the funding responsibility for home studies from unspecified to explicitly stating the Department of Social Services is responsible, with a $1,000 contribution per study.

Added specific requirement that children in DSS custody must have FBI fingerprint-based criminal record checks completed for each adopting parent.

Added procedural language requiring the department to establish rules capping reimbursable costs through administrative rulemaking.