SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) would further streamline the state’s adoption process while removing redundancies and red tape.

“Reaching the final steps of the adoption process is a wonderful experience, but the final steps can be confusing and laden with red tape,” said Feigenholtz, who is herself an adoptee. “In an effort to make a challenging process less so, this bill fine tunes and clarifies some issues that often arise while finalizing an adoption.”

Senate Bill 107 removes the residency requirement so state courts can exercise jurisdiction over more complex adoption cases where one or both of the biological or legal parents reside out-of-state. The proposal also addresses the adoption of an adult by a former step-parent; gives judges the discretion to appoint a guardian ad litem; and streamlines adoption orders if the child is related to the petitioners.

“Adoption has got to be made less cumbersome, and that’s what this bill accomplishes,” Feigenholtz said.

The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously and will now head to the full Senate for consideration.