1. A. Upon the filing of a petition for adoption, the court shall order or receive a home study and report to be made by:

   1. 1. The agency having custody or legal guardianship of the child; or
   2. 2. The State Department of Human Services; or
   3. 3. A licensed child-placing agency or certified adoption agency; or

   4. 4. A person designated by the court who meets one of the following qualifications:

      1. a. a master's degree in social work and one (1) year of experience in children's services,
      2. b. a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) and one (1) year of experience in children's services,
      3. c. a master's degree in a behavioral or social science and two (2) years' experience in children's services,
      4. d. a doctorate in a behavioral or social science and one (1) year of experience in children's services, or
      5. e. is a member of the clergy with two (2) years of experience in family counseling; or

   5. 5. A person who is supervised by a person described in paragraph 4 of this subsection, and who meets one of the following qualifications:

      1. a. a bachelor's degree in social work, or
      2. b. a bachelor's degree in behavioral or social science and one (1) year of experience in children's or family services.
2. B. The court shall order that a report of such home study be filed with the court by the designated investigator within the time fixed by the court and in no event more than sixty (60) days from the issuance of the order for home study, unless time therefor is extended by the court.

3. C.

   1. 1. The home study shall include an appropriate inquiry to determine whether the proposed home is a suitable one for the child; and any other circumstances and conditions which may have a bearing on the adoption and of which the court should have knowledge; and, in this entire matter of investigation, the court is specifically authorized to exercise judicial knowledge and discretion.
   2. 2. The home study shall consist of documentation of at least one individual interview with each parent, each school-age child and any other household member, one joint interview, a home visit and three written references.
   3. 3. The home study shall also include verification that the home is a healthy, safe environment in which to raise a child, as well as verification of marital status, employment, income, access to medical care, physical health and history, and a criminal background check.
4. D. A supplemental report including a determination as to the legal availability or status of the child for adoption shall be filed prior to the final adoption petition.
5. E. The court may order agencies named in subsection A of this section located in one or more counties to make separate investigations on separate parts of the inquiry, as may be appropriate.
6. F. The report of such home study shall become a part of the files in the case and shall contain a definite recommendation for or against the proposed adoption and the reasons therefor.
7. G. Provided, that if the child petitioned to be adopted shall be the natural or adopted child of either of the petitioners then no investigation shall be made.
8. H. The Department of Human Services shall not be required to make a home study and report to the court on adoptive placements made by private adoption agencies or persons providing private adoption services.

Added by Laws 1957, SB 184, p. 24, § 13; Amended by Laws 1959, SB 89, p. 27, § 1, emerg. eff. April 6, 1959; Amended by Laws 1987, SB 8, c. 85, § 1, eff. November 1, 1987; Amended by Laws 1994, HB 1356, c. 122, § 3, emerg. eff. July 1, 1994.