KRS 36.477: Kentucky National Guard Adoption Assistance Program.

(1) There is hereby established the Kentucky National Guard Adoption Assistance

Program to be administered by the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs.

(2) Any current or former member of the Kentucky National Guard who finalizes a

legal adoption procedure for the adoption of a child shall be eligible to receive

reimbursement from the military family assistance trust fund as provided in KRS

36.474 for actual costs associated with the adoption of the child, including a child

with special needs. For the purpos es of this section, a child with special needs

means the same as defined in KRS 199.555(1).

(3) The eligible current or former member of the Kentucky National Guard shall

receive:

(a) Up to seven thousand dollars ($7,000) in unreimbursed direct costs relat ed to

the adoption of a child with special needs; or

(b) Up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) in unreimbursed direct costs related to

the adoption of any other child.

(4) Unreimbursed direct costs related to the adoption of a child with special needs or

other child shall include:

(a) Licensed adoption agency fees;

(b) Legal fees;

(c) Medical costs;

(d) Court costs; and

(e) Other fees or costs associated with the child adoption in accordance with state

and federal law and after review and approval by the court at the finalization

of the adoption.

(5) Application for financial assistance shall be made by submitting a completed

Kentucky National Guard adoption assistance application to the adjutant general

along with documentary evidence of:

(a) Finalization of the adoption; and

(b) Certification by the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services

that the adopted chi ld is a child with special needs, if reimbursement for

special needs adoption is sought.

(6) If both adoptive parents are current or former members of the Kentucky National

Guard, the application for financial assistance shall be made jointly and the amoun t

of reimbursement shall be limited to that specified in this section.

(7) Upon approval of the application for financial assistance, the adjutant general shall

dispense funds from the military family assistance trust fund to the eligible

applicant.

(8) The Department of Military Affairs shall promulgate administrative regulations in

accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to carry out the provisions of this section.