To prohibit placement of children in unlicensed organizations

HB 2811 prohibits unlicensed individuals and organizations from placing children for adoption. It makes selling or bartering a child for adoption a felony (up to 14 years in prison or $5,000 fine) and criminalizes unlicensed advertising, accepting, or providing children for adoption as a misdemeanor (fines up to $5,000 for individuals or $5,000+ for organizations, with possible license revocation). Birth parents are exempt from these restrictions. Only entities licensed by West Virginia’s Department of Human Services may legally place children for adoption.