Adoption fund created, use of moneys - rules.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 453.650
in effect453.650. Adoption fund created, use of moneys — rules. — 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Zero-Cost Adoption Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and any gifts, bequests, and donations. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180 , the state treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in this fund shall be used solely as provided in subsection 4 of this section. The fund shall be administered by the department of social services.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.
3. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
4. Moneys in the fund shall be used, in order of descending priority, to:
(1) Assist a resident of this state in paying for nonrecurring adoption expenses, as defined in section 135.326 , for each child adopted;
(2) Provide postadoption assistance, including reimbursement of adoption costs paid in advance, counseling services, and other care that may be required;
(3) Promote adoption and recruit potential adoptive families; and
(4) Support community-based intervention methods to prevent children from entering into foster care.
5. In accordance with subsection 4 of this section, moneys in the fund may be used for either public or private adoptions; however, priority shall be given to adoptions with children in foster care.
6. The department of social services may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2025, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 2025 H.B. 121) CROSS REFERENCE: Zero-cost adoption fund tax credit, 135.315
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=453.650Fetched: 10/17/2026