# § 2903. Reimbursement for adoption expenses
**(a)** **Authorization To Reimburse.—** The Secretary shall carry out a program under which a member of the Coast Guard may be reimbursed, as provided in this section, for qualifying adoption expenses incurred by the member in the adoption of a child under 18 years of age.
**(b)** **Adoptions Covered.—** An adoption for which expenses may be reimbursed under this section includes an adoption by a single individual, an infant adoption, an intercountry adoption, and an adoption of a child with special needs (as defined in section 473(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(c))).
**(c)** **Benefits Paid After Adoption Is Final.—** Benefits paid under this section in the case of an adoption may be paid only after the adoption is final.
**(d)** **Treatment of Other Benefits.—** A benefit may not be paid under this section for any expense paid to or for a member of the Coast Guard under any other adoption benefits program administered by the Federal Government or under any such program administered by a State or local government.
**(e)** **Limitations.—**
**(1)** Not more than $2,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child.
**(2)** Not more than $5,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for adoptions by such member (or members) in any calendar year.
**(f)** **Regulations.—** The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
**(g)** **Definitions.—** In this section:
**(1)** The term “qualifying adoption expenses” means reasonable and necessary expenses that are directly related to the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age, but only if such adoption is arranged by a qualified adoption agency. Such term does not include any expense incurred—
**(A)** by an adopting parent for travel; or
**(B)** in connection with an adoption arranged in violation of Federal, State, or local law.
**(2)** The term “reasonable and necessary expenses” includes—
**(A)** public and private agency fees, including adoption fees charged by an agency in a foreign country;
**(B)** placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for counseling;
**(C)** legal fees (including court costs) in connection with services that are unavailable to a member of the Coast Guard under section 1044 or 1044a of title 10; and
**(D)** medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted.
**(3)** The term “qualified adoption agency” means any of the following:
**(A)** A State or local government agency which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption.
**(B)** A nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.
**(C)** Any other source authorized by a State to provide adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court under State or local law.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 651(b)(1), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1386, § 514; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1054(g), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2503; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VI, § 652(b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2582; renumbered § 541, Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 214(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3033; renumbered § 2903, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 117(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4230; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(48), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4750.)
## Editorial Notes
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 2903 was renumbered .
### Amendments
2021—Subsec. (b). substituted “individual” for “person”.
2018— renumbered as this section.
2014— renumbered as this section.
1996—Subsec. (g)(1). , substituted “qualified adoption agency.” for “State or local government agency which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption or by a nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.”
Subsec. (g)(3). , added par. (3).
1992—Subsec. (b). inserted a close parenthesis before period at end.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
Section effective , and applicable to adoptions completed on or after that date, see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.
### Reimbursement for Adoptions Completed During Interim Between Test and Permanent Program
For provisions relating to reimbursement for adoption expenses and time period for application, see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.