42 USC 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
Terms Used In 42 USC 14911
- central authority: means the entity designated as such by any Convention country under Article 6(1) of the Convention. See 42 USC 14902
- Convention: means the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, done at The Hague on May 29, 1993. See 42 USC 14902
- Secretary: means the Secretary of State. See 42 USC 14902
- State: means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. See 42 USC 14902
(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.