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Could Florida Become 30th State To Regulate How Kids Are Advertised For Adoption?

Florida Channel
Senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood) following a Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee Tuesday.

Florida lawmakers moved a bill forward Tuesday that would make it illegal for a parent to go through an informal adoption without court supervision. It’s in response to a Reuters investigation that found people who adopted children from overseas sometimes put those same kids up for adoption through online posts. Hollywood Democratic Senator Eleanor Sobel is the main sponsor of the bill.

“It’s just like putting kids up for sale, but there’s really no monetary exchange…I think it’s a form of human trafficking for children, and it needs to be stopped,” said Sobel.

All nine members of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to let the proposal become a fully-sponsored committee bill. It now heads to the Senate President, who’ll decide in which other committees the measure should be heard. If the bill becomes law, Florida would be the 30th state to regulate how children can be advertised for adoption.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on twitter @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.