Kathy Hochul scraps restrictive rule that caused costly adoption nightmares for some New Yorkers

Carl Campanile
·2 min read
New York Governor Kathy Hochul greets people as she arrives to deliver her State of the State address
New York Governor Kathy Hochul greets people as she arrives to deliver her State of the State address
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Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administrative scrapped a controversial rule that critics said made it easier for New Yorkers to get an abortion than to adopt babies from birth mothers in other states.

The Jan. 5 edict said financial help can only be made 60 days before the baby is born and 30 days after birth — which advocates complained severely hinders help for the biological moms.

The rule also covered adoptions involving birth mothers who live outside of New York — making the state one of the most restrictive in the country when it comes to adoptions.

It also unfairly put state residents who want a baby at a disadvantage, critics railed.

Advocates blasted the restriction for clashing with the state’s liberal abortion rights policy.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has scrapped a controversial rule that made it more difficult for New Yorkers to adopt babies from birth mothers in other states. AP
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has scrapped a controversial rule that made it more difficult for New Yorkers to adopt babies from birth mothers in other states. AP
The Jan. 5 edict said financial help can only be made 60 days before the baby is born and 30 days after birth — which advocates complained severely hinders help for the biological moms. AP
The Jan. 5 edict said financial help can only be made 60 days before the baby is born and 30 days after birth — which advocates complained severely hinders help for the biological moms. AP

But the state Office of Children and Family Service Service rescinded the order in a March 13 letter, following outcry reported in The Post from adoptive parents and lawyers who represent them.

“The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is sending this letter to provide an update regarding the attached letter dated January 5, 2024 on the subject of the allowable payments to a birth parent in connection with an adoptive placement under the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC),” the note sent by Gail Geohagen-Pratt, deputy commissioner for Child Welfare & Community Services said.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) said, “No adoptive parent should deal with the possibility of having their baby taken away because of bureaucratic nonsense.”

Two adoptive parents, former Congressman Max Rose and Michael Oliva, also praised Hochul for reversing the anti-parent policy.

The rule also covered adoptions involving birth mothers who live outside of New York making the state one of the most restrictive in the country when it comes to adoptions. AP
The rule also covered adoptions involving birth mothers who live outside of New York making the state one of the most restrictive in the country when it comes to adoptions. AP

The “about-face” is a good start, said Samantha Siddiqui, executive director of the New York Adoption Coalition.

Siddiqui said the governor and legislature need to approve a more sweeping adoption-friendly law.

“New York is not adoption friendly,” she said.