State Department
The Department of State (the Department) is issuing a final rule on the accreditation and approval of agencies and persons in accordance with the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (the IAA), after review of public comments received in response to the Department's September 15, 2003 issuance of a proposed rule. The Convention and the IAA generally require that agencies and persons be accredited or approved to provide adoption services for intercountry adoptions when both countries involved are parties to the Convention, and the IAA requires that the Department designate one or more qualified accrediting entities to accredit and approve agencies and persons. Today's new action establishes the accreditation and approval standards for agencies and persons that accrediting entities will use; establishes requirements applicable to potential accrediting entities; and establishes a framework for the Department's oversight of accrediting entities, agencies, and persons. This action is a necessary step toward bringing the Convention into force for the United States.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of State 22 CFR Part 96 [Public Notice 5296] RIN 1400-AA-88 AGENCY: Department of State. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of State (the Department) is issuing a final rule on the accreditation and approval of agencies and persons in accordance with the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (the IAA), after review of public comments received in response to the Department's September 15, 2003 issuance of a proposed rule. The Convention and the IAA generally require that agencies and persons be accredited or approved to provide adoption services for intercountry adoptions when both countries involved are parties to the Convention, and the IAA requires that the Department designate one or more qualified accrediting entities to accredit and approve agencies and persons. Today's new action establishes the accreditation and approval standards for agencies and persons that accrediting entities will use; establishes requirements applicable to potential accrediting entities; and establishes a framework for the Department's oversight of accrediting entities, agencies, and persons. This action is a necessary step toward bringing the Convention into force for the United States. DATES: This rule is effective March 17, 2006. Information about the date the Convention will enter into force is indicated in the text of the final rule. FOR FURTHER INFORM…
Citation: 71 FR 8064
