Section 273 Of Chapter 2. Abandonment And Neglect Of Children From California Penal Code >> Title 9. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2.
273
. (a) It is a misdemeanor for any person or agency to pay, offer
to pay, or to receive money or anything of value for the placement
for adoption or for the consent to an adoption of a child. This
subdivision shall not apply to any fee paid for adoption services
provided by the State Department of Social Services, a licensed
adoption agency, adoption services providers, as defined in Section
8502 of the Family Code, or an attorney providing adoption legal
services.
(b) This section shall not make it unlawful to pay or receive the
maternity-connected medical or hospital and necessary living expenses
of the mother preceding and during confinement as an act of charity,
as long as the payment is not contingent upon placement of the child
for adoption, consent to the adoption, or cooperation in the
completion of the adoption.
(c) It is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county
jail not exceeding one year or by a fine not exceeding two thousand
five hundred dollars ($2,500) for any parent to obtain the financial
benefits set forth in subdivision (b) with the intent to receive
those financial benefits where there is an intent to do either of the
following:
(1) Not complete the adoption.
(2) Not consent to the adoption.
(d) It is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county
jail not exceeding one year or by a fine not exceeding two thousand
five hundred dollars ($2,500) for any parent to obtain the financial
benefits set forth in subdivision (b) from two or more prospective
adopting families or persons, if either parent does both of the
following:
(1) Knowingly fails to disclose to those families or persons that
there are other prospective adopting families or persons interested
in adopting the child, with knowledge that there is an obligation to
disclose that information.
(2) Knowingly accepts the financial benefits set forth in
subdivision (b) if the aggregate amount exceeds the reasonable
maternity-connected medical or hospital and necessary living expenses
of the mother preceding and during the pregnancy.
(e) Any person who has been convicted previously of an offense
described in subdivision (c) or (d), who is separately tried and
convicted of a subsequent violation of subdivision (c) or (d), is
guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county
jail or in the state prison.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the
prosecution of any person for a misdemeanor or felony pursuant to
Section 487 or any other provision of law in lieu of prosecution
pursuant to this section.