42-3-202. Initiation of preplacement evaluation -- who conducts evaluation -- payment of fees. (1) A prospective adoptive parent who wishes to adopt a child may initiate the process by:

(a) establishing a client relationship with the department or a licensed child-placing agency; or

(b) requesting a preplacement evaluation from the department, a licensed social worker, or a licensed child-placing agency.

(2) In a direct parental placement adoption, the preplacement evaluation must be conducted by either a licensed social worker or a licensed child-placing agency.

(3) The prospective adoptive parent and the home of the prospective adoptive parent must be studied and evaluated according to the provisions of this part.

(4) A department or agency from which an individual is seeking to adopt a child may require the individual to be evaluated by its own qualified employee or independent contractor even if the individual has received a favorable preplacement evaluation from another evaluator.

(5) Fees for the study and report are set by the entity completing them and must be paid for by the prospective adoptive parent.