AN ACT CONCERNING FINALIZING ADOPTIONS BY THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR JUVENILE MATTERS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2012) (a) In any case where the termination of parental rights concerning a child or children was filed in the Superior Court under section 17a-112 of the general statutes, or transferred to the Superior Court from the Court of Probate under section 45a-715 of the general statutes, a petition for adoption may be filed by the Department of Children and Families following the expiration of any appeal or appeal period, in the Superior Court that granted the termination of parental rights.

(b) All social studies, psychological reports, and court documents previously filed in the termination of parental rights proceeding shall be available to the court, subject to the rules of evidence, for review and consideration in acting upon the petition for adoption of such child or children. The court shall, to the extent possible, protect the confidentiality of the biological parents, unless such information has been previously disclosed.

(c) The Department of Children and Families shall prepare and submit with the petition for adoption a new social study regarding the proposed adoption, which shall include, but not be limited to, information on the child or children's present welfare, medical condition, educational history and special needs, if any. The study shall contain information concerning the proposed adoptive family. All studies and reports filed with or subsequent to the filing of the petition for adoption shall be available to the family with whom the child or children have been placed with prior to adoption.

(d) Upon receipt of the petition and the adoption social study, the court shall set a time and date for a hearing and shall give reasonable notice to the Department of Children and Families, the family with whom the child or children have been placed with prior to adoption, the child or children, if over twelve years of age, and any such other parties, as the court may require.

(e) Prior to acting on the petition, the court may continue the matter for further investigation, issue orders of notice or take other action. At the hearing, if the court is satisfied that the adoption is in the best interests of the child or children, the court shall enter a decree approving the adoption.