<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 07.05.03.07" title_num="07" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="03" heading="Reasonable Fee.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Domestic Adoption-Related Child Placement Services. A licensed child placement agency providing domestic adoption services may charge a reasonable fee for reimbursement of services by developing a sliding fee scale based on income. The agency may not:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Charge a fee unless it has provided the applicant with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The agency's fee and refund policy;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An estimate of the agency's maximum fee for specific services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Information regarding available public and private subsidies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The agency's sliding income fee scale; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Except for a reasonable nonrefundable administrative fee, keep payment from the adoptive parent unless the agency has provided the services, irrespective of whether:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An application and home study are pursued to completion, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A child is adopted.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>International Adoption. The agency shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a foreign country ceases adoption activity with the United States:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Keep a designated nonrefundable fee established at the time the fee was collected; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Refund the entire collected fee;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Designate a reasonable refundable fee which shall be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Used for legal and other expenses when the adoption is finalized in a foreign country;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Placed in an escrow or reserve account if it is not needed within 60 days of receipt by the agency; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Returned to the applicant if the adoption is not finalized, and:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The adoptive parent has not caused the collapse of the adoption by actions or statements, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Funds are not needed for legal and other documented expenses in the foreign country;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Inform the applicant in writing of the reasonable fees described in §B(1) and (2) of this regulation; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If the adopted child has special needs as defined in Regulation .06B(1) of this chapter, explore the availability of State reimbursement for nonrecurring adoption expenses as described in COMAR 07.02.12.18.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>