Title 19, Chapter 8, Section 24
( 19-8-24)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, organization, corporation,
hospital, or association of any kind whatsoever which has not been
established as a child-placing agency by the department to: (1) Advertise, whether in a periodical, by television, by radio,
or by any other public medium or by any private means, including
letters, circulars, handbills, and oral statements, that the
person, organization, corporation, hospital, or association will
adopt children or will arrange for or cause children to be adopted
or placed for adoption; or (2) Directly or indirectly hold out inducements to parents to part
with their children. As used in this subsection, "inducements" shall include any
financial assistance, either direct or indirect, from whatever
source, except payment or reimbursement of the medical expenses
directly related to the mother's pregnancy and hospitalization for
the birth of the child and medical care for the child. (b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this Code section
shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.00 or imprisonment for not
more than ten years, or both, in the discretion of the court. (c)(1) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall
not apply to communication by private means, including only
written letters or oral statements, by an individual seeking to: (A) Adopt a child or children; or (B) Place that individual's child or children for adoption, whether the communication occurs before or after the birth of such
child or children. (2) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not
apply to any communication described in paragraph (1) of this
subsection which contains any attorney's name, address, telephone
number, or any combination of such information and which requests
any attorney named in such communication to be contacted to
facilitate the carrying out of the purpose, as described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, of
the individual making such personal communication. |