42 USC § 14911 - Designation of central authority

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s14911"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 14911 - Designation of central authority"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "14911"
section_name: "Designation of central authority"
chapter_number: 143
chapter_name: "INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "UNITED STATES CENTRAL AUTHORITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 106–279, title I, § 101, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 827.)"
---


# § 14911. Designation of central authority

**(a)** **In general** For purposes of the Convention and this chapter—

**(1)** the Department of State shall serve as the central authority of the United States; and

**(2)** the Secretary shall serve as the head of the central authority of the United States.

**(b)** **Performance of central authority functions**

**(1)** Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Secretary shall be responsible for the performance of all central authority functions for the United States under the Convention and this chapter.

**(2)** All personnel of the Department of State performing core central authority functions in a professional capacity in the Office of Children’s Issues shall have a strong background in consular affairs, personal experience in international adoptions, or professional experience in international adoptions or child services.

**(c)** **Authority to issue regulations** Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Secretary may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out central authority functions on behalf of the United States.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 106–279, title I, § 101, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 827.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (b)(1), and (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , with transition rule, see section 505(a)(1), (b) of , set out as an Effective Dates; Transition Rule note under .