(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a person may not charge or receive, from or for a parent or prospective adoptive parent, any compensation for a service in connection with: (1) placement of an individual to live with a preadoptive family; or (2) an agreement for custody in contemplation of adoption. (b) (1) In this subsection, "Administration" means the Social Services Administration of the Department. (2) This section does not: (i) prohibit payment, by an interested person, of: 1. a customary and reasonable charge or fee for adoption counseling, hospital, legal, or medical services; 2. reasonable expenses for transportation for medical care associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; 3. reasonable expenses for food, clothing, and shelter for a birth mother if, on written advice of a physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself because of medical reasons associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; or 4. reasonable expenses associated with any required court appearance relating to the adoption, including transportation, food, and lodging expenses; or (ii) prevent the Administration, or a person that the Administration licenses or supervises, from receiving and accepting reasonable reimbursement for costs of an adoptive service in connection with adoption, if: 1. the reimbursement is in accordance with standards set by regulation of the Administration; and 2. the ability to provide this reimbursement does not affect: A. the acceptability of any individual for adoptive services; or B. the choice of the most suitable prospective adoptive parent. (c) Each State's Attorney shall enforce this section. (d) A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or both, for each offense.
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