§ 2903. Reimbursement for adoption expenses

• (a) The Secretary shall carry out a program under which a member of the Coast Guard may be reimbursed, as provided in this section, for qualifying adoption expenses incurred by the member in the adoption of a child under 18 years of age.
• (b) An adoption for which expenses may be reimbursed under this section includes an adoption by a single individual, an infant adoption, an intercountry adoption, and an adoption of a child with special needs (as defined in section 473(c) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 673(c) )).
• (c) Benefits paid under this section in the case of an adoption may be paid only after the adoption is final.
• (d) A benefit may not be paid under this section for any expense paid to or for a member of the Coast Guard under any other adoption benefits program administered by the Federal Government or under any such program administered by a State or local government.
• (e)
  • (1) Not more than $2,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child.
  • (2) Not more than $5,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for adoptions by such member (or members) in any calendar year.
• (f) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
• (g) In this section:
  • (1) The term “qualifying adoption expenses” means reasonable and necessary expenses that are directly related to the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age, but only if such adoption is arranged by a qualified adoption agency. Such term does not include any expense incurred—
    • (A) by an adopting parent for travel; or
    • (B) in connection with an adoption arranged in violation of Federal, State, or local law.
  • (2) The term “reasonable and necessary expenses” includes—
    • (A) public and private agency fees, including adoption fees charged by an agency in a foreign country;
    • (B) placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for counseling;
    • (C) legal fees (including court costs) in connection with services that are unavailable to a member of the Coast Guard under section 1044 or 1044a of title 10; and
    • (D) medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted.
  • (3) The term “qualified adoption agency” means any of the following:
    • (A) A State or local government agency which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption.
    • (B) A nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.
    • (C) Any other source authorized by a State to provide adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court under State or local law.