(a)  Except as authorized in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, only a county department of social services in this State or an agency licensed by the Department may prepare preplacement assessments pursuant to Article 3 of this Chapter or reports to the court pursuant to Article 2 of this Chapter.
(b)  A preplacement assessment prepared in another state may be used in this State only if:
(1) The prospective adoptive parent resided in the state where it was prepared; and
(2) The person or entity that prepared it was authorized by the law of that state to gather the necessary information.
An assessment prepared in another state that does not meet the requirements of this section and G.S. 48-3-303(c) through (h) must be updated by a county department of social services in this State or an agency licensed by the Department before being used in this State.
(c)  An order for a report to the court must be sent to a county department of social services in this State or an agency licensed by the Department. If the petitioner moves to a different state before the agency completes the report, the agency shall request a report from an agency authorized to prepare such reports in the petitioner's new state of residence pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, Article 38 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes.