JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is weighing whether to sign legislation that would allow children's non-related legal guardians to receive adoption subsidies.
Currently only grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings or cousins can get state-sponsored subsidies when they become the legal guardians of a child.
But a bill passed by the Legislature would expand that list to include people who are not blood relatives if their lives and those of a child are "intermingled" in a manner similar to a family relationship.
The subsidies are payments given to guardians to help pay for the child's care.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. John Lamping, of St. Louis.
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Adoption subsidies is SB47
Online:
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov