Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 1.djvu/263

 PUBLIC LAW 95-266—APR. 24, 1978 the recommendations of the panel described in subsection (b) of this section, proposed model adoption legislation and procedures and publish such proposal in the Federal Register for comment. After soliciting and giving due consideration to the comments of interested individuals, groups, and organizations and consulting further with such panel, the Secretary shall issue and publish model adoption legislation and procedures which shall not conflict with the provisions of any interstate compact in operation pursuant to which States are making, supervising, or regulating placements of children. (b)(1) Not later than ninety days aft^r the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint a panel (hereinafter referred to as the "panel") to be composed of not less than eleven nor more than seventeen members generally representative of public and voluntary organizations, agencies, and persons interested and with expertise and experience in facilitating the achievement of the purposes of this title (including, but not limited to, national, State, and local child welfare organizations, including those representative of minorities, and adoptive parent organizations). The panel shall (A) review current conditions, practices, and laws relating to adoption, with special reference to their effect on facilitating or impeding the location of suitable adoptive homes for children who would benefit by adoption and the completion of suitable adoptions for such children; and (B) not later than twelve months after the date on which the members of the panel have been appointed, propose to the Secretary model (including adoption assistance agreement) legislation and pi-ocedures relating to adoption designed to facilitate adoption by families of all economic levels. (2) The panel shall be terminated thirty days after the Secretary publishes the final model legislation and procedures pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. (3) Members of the panel, other than those regularly employed by the Federal Government, while serving on business of the panel shall he entitled to receive compensation at a rate not in excess of the daily equivalent of the rate payable to a GS-18 employee under section 5o22 of title 5, United States Code, including traveltime; and, while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) as authorized by section 5703 of such title for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. (c) The Secretary shall take such steps as he or she deems necessary to encourage and facilitate the enactment in each State of comprehensive adoption assistance legislation and the establishment in each State of the model legislation and procedures published pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

92 STAT. 209

Panel. Appointment.

Tennination. Compensation,

INFORMATION AND SERVICES

SEC. 203. (a) The Secretary shall establish in the Department of 42 USC 5113. Health, Education, and Welfare an appropriate administrative arrangement to provide a centralized focus for planning and coordinatinir of all departmental activities affecting adoption and foster care and for carrying out the provisions of this title. The Secretary shall make available such consultant services and personnel, together with

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