(A) The Department of Social Services may develop, participate in the development of, negotiate, and enter into one or more interstate compacts on behalf of this State with other states to implement one or more of the purposes set forth in this article. The compact has the effect of law.

(B) For the purposes of this article:

(1) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or a territory or possession of or administered by the United States.

(2) "Adoption assistance state" means the state that is signatory to an adoption assistance agreement in a particular case.

(3) "Residence state" means the state of which the child is a resident by virtue of the residence of the adoptive parents.