Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, & Montana all to have Adoptee Bills in their State Capitols
A new year is here and with that it is time to roll out the Adoptee Rights Bills to Support in 2015. Just like the 2014 and 2013 lists, this will be a living list where things like bill numbers do get updated. However, for the most recent activity on any one state’s pending legislation and needed support, please refer to the websites and Facebook pages. If you know of additional states where legislation is pending this year, please do let me know.
Last year’s list included Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Georgia. Happy to announce that New Jersey and Colorado are considered done. Connecticut also set out and made some successful changes in 2014.
While the Adoptee Rights Coalition organizes a national demonstration each year, it is vitally important to support Adoptee Rights Bills that come through each state capitol. The vast majority of Adoptee Rights bills are not understood at all by the very state legislators that are required to vote on them. If you need facts, please feel free to use any of the materials on the Adoptee Rights pages here.
Take the Listly List and embed it in your own site!
I recommend writing a short, yet powerful letter, identifying yourself and supporting Adoptee Rights OBC access. Add some facts and why you support Adoptee Rights. Then keep your letter on file. It is then very easy to edit it to the right legislators regarding whatever state bill and send it off when needed. The fact is that one cannot sit back in their chair and wonder when these laws will change, it is up to us to MAKE that change happen. And if you do not DO anything, then, I am sorry, you have no right to complain.
Follow your state group on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for their mailing lists and when they ask you to do something, just do it! Send your letter, make a comment saying you did, and share the post to your own networks. The only way we will ever restore the civil rights of our friends and children is if we work on their doggedly and with purpose together.
Connecticut Adoptee Rights Proposed H.B. No. 5910
Access Connecticut
Website: Access Connecticut
Bill Number: Proposed H.B. No. 5910 and NOT Proposed S.B. No. 640
General Bill info: Access Connecticut has one goal: We seek to re-establish the right of adult adoptees to access their original birth certificate, a right which the all non-adopted citizens have under Connecticut law. Prior to 1975 all adoptees born in Connecticut had the right to obtain their true, original birth certificates (OBCs) upon reaching the age of majority.
Latest Update: See the lasted email update sent out 1/24/14
Next: We had decided for many tactical reasons to wait until 2016 to push a full access bill, the main reason being our partial access bill doesn’t go into effect into July 1, 2015. In the meantime, we are seeking to have a bill passed this year which is a birth parent rights bill to access to their relinquishment documents. The bill will help us gather data to bolster our case in 2016 that birth parents were never “promised” privacy/secrecy, etc., which is one of the main concerns of our opponents (and one of the largest myths about adoption.)However, things may heat up in Connecticut this year beyond our expectations. Two proposed bills have been introduced in the past few days.
- Proposed H.B. No. 5910 introduced by Rep. Lonnie Reed would grant full access to ALL adoptees, regardless of date of adoption (YAY!).
- Proposed S.B. No. 640 would enact a one time disclosure veto option that would expire Jan, 1, 2017 (NO!) was introduced by Sen. Michael McLachlan.
Hundreds of proposed bills in CT get introduced. We have been meeting with legislators and are reaching out to others, with the help of our excelllent lobbyist Mr. Matt Hallisey of Matthew Hallisey Government Affairs. We will keep you posted…
What you can do to help Adoptee Rights in Connecticut:
- JOIN email newsletter at www.accessconnecticut.org.
- LIKE AccessConnecticut and Share their Updates!
- FOLLOW: @AccessCT on Twitter
- MEET UP: Next in person meeting was rescheduled to Saturday, February 7 at 9:30 am at CAFAP, 2189 Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill.
Indiana Adoptee Rights Senate Bill 352
Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records ( HEAR)
Website: Indiana, Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records ( HEAR)
Bill Number: SB 352 in Indiana is the Adoptee Rights bill
General Bill info: The Indiana legislature passed a law in 1993 that allowed any child adopted after Jan. 1, 1994 to approach the state and obtain their OBC after their 21st birthday. There was no grandfather access for adult adoptees in the closed access period. New bill would extend this right for those adopted during the “closed record” period—from 1941 to 1993. We aren’t asking for different systems or rights. Only an extension of what is already offered to other Hoosier adoptees. The bill will extend the current OBC access law to adult adoptees in the closed access group, while offering birth/first parents who do not wish to be contacted the ability to express their wishes through a contact-preference form. If passed, this new law will only extend a system that already exists in Indiana. All the processes and forms now in place for those adopted 1993 to today will remain in place, and be used for a new group, those adopted 1941-1993. There are no anticipated hirings or large expenses which would be needed for the state to implement this change.
Latest Update: On January 14, 2015; HEAR testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Committee then voted 8-2 to advance the measure to the full Senate. More on the opposition in Indiana here.
Next: Pam Dixon Kroskie who is heading the effort along with Marcie Keithley as asked for phone calls to go to the Indiana Senate as the bill is prepared to go to the Senate for a full vote:
“Start your calls to your Senator for SB 352- Adoptee Rights Bill – starting at 8:30 am -4:45pm – just call 800-382-9467.”
What you can do to help Adoptee Rights in Indiana:
- JOIN their email list; contact legislators.
- LIKEIndiana, Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records ( HEAR) and Share their Updates!
Iowa Adoptee Rights Bill #HF 197
Iowa Adoptee & Family Coalition
Website: https://www.facebook.com/IowaAdopteeRights
Bill Number: HF#197
General Bill info: House File 197
An Act relating to the obtaining of a copy of an original birth certificate by an adult adoptee, and providing for fees.
Latest Update: Feb. 09 15 Introduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 283
What you can do to help:
- SUPPORT: Iowa with letters to the legislators
- LIKE: Iowa Adoptee Rights and Share their Updates!
Massachusetts Adoptee Rights Bill #Pending
Access Massachusettes OBC for MA
Website: http://www.obcforma.org/
Bill Number: pending; filed as docket number SD 1112
General Bill info: Revise the 2007 legislation so that MA adoptees born between July 17, 1974 and January 1, 2008 are also treated equally
Latest Update: 1/15 Senator Eldridge filed in the Senate. Docket number SD 1112.
What you can do to help:
- SUPPORT: MA with letters to the legislators
- LIKE:OBC for MA – Access Massachusetts and Share their Updates!
- FOLLOW: @OBCforMA on Twitter
- SIGNUP: for the email list
Missouri Adoptee Rights Bill HB 647
Missouri Adoptee Rights Movement
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MissouriAdopteeRightsMovement
Bill Number: HB 647
General Bill info: Establishes procedures for an adopted person to obtain a copy of his or her original birth certificate: PDF of text
Latest Update:01/22/2015 – Introduced and Read First Time (H)
What you can do to help:
- SUPPORT: Missouri with letters to the legislators; Sample from 2013’s over here; but check bill details.
- LIKE: Missouri Adoptee Rights Movement and Share their Updates!
Montana Adoptee Rights Bill HB397
Website: current updated: http://www.adoptionmandala.org/MT%20Adoption%20Reform%202015
old site: https://sites.google.com/site/mtadoption/home
Bill Number: HB397
General Bill info: Revise adoption laws related to release of birth certificates to adoptees.
Latest Update: HB397 was introduced to the MT House and assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
What you can do to help:
- SUPPORT: Contact the Judiciary Committee
- JOIN the mailing list on the current MT Adoption Reform Page
New York’s Adoptee Rights Bill A2901
NY Adoption Equality
Website: http://www.nyadoptionequality.com/
Email: NewYorkStateEquality@gmail.com
Bill Number: A2901 in the House
General Bill info:
Enacts Bill of Adoptee Rights clarifying language and procedures for obtaining birth certificates and medical histories of adoptees;permits an adopted adult to access certain records when they reach the age of 18; creates a contact preference to be filed by birth parents.
More pending upon most recent bill text becoming available.
What you can do to help:
- SUPPORT: NY with letters to the legislators
- LIKE: New York State Equality and Share their Updates! https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkStateEquality
- FOLLOW: @NYAdoptEquality on Twitter
- SIGNUP: for the email list
Unsealed Initiative is also continuing to work in NY
Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights Bill #Pending
Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights PAR
Website: Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights PAR
Email: AmandaWoolston@pennsylvaniaadopteerights.org
Bill Number: Supporters now intend to reintroduce the bill in January 2015 for the next legislative session.
General Bill info: Adoptee Access to OBC at age 18
Latest Update: PAR is committed to passing a clean bill that fully restores the equal access afforded to all adult adoptees prior to 1984. Our legislators can do this. And we will keep working with them until they do. We will come back in January for the next session ready to make this happen.Yes, it is discouraging that we were not able to achieve the desired result this time around. We ask that everyone take a deep breath and get their strength back up. We’re going back in! Let’s do this! It’s time!
“A bill that would have allowed adult adoptees to access their original birth certificate has been pulled from consideration following an amendment that would have resulted in the perpetuation of unequal treatment for adoptees under law. Supporters now intend to reintroduce the bill in January 2015 for the next legislative session.”
What you can do to help:
- Comment on the Bill here:http://legiscan.com/PA/sponsors/HB162
- Find your PA legislatorsand contact them in support of HB 162.
- LIKEPennsylvania Adoptee Rights on Facebook and Share their Updates!
- Follow@AdopteeRightsPA on Twitter!
- Jointheir mailing list for updates:
Texas Adoptee Rights Bill HB984
STAR Support Texas Adoptee Rights
Website: http://www.texasadopteerights.org/
Bill Number: House Bill HB984
General Bill info: Restores access to OBC once adoptee is over 18; contact preference form for birthparents; no redaction, no mother may i’s, no denails
Latest Update: 1/15 News just hit the media.
Support Texas Adoptee Rights STAR is collecting photos of people holding up signs about their own adoption experience. This is for a TEXAS video; please refer to this FB status for details.
What you can do to help:
- SUPPORT: Texas with letters to the legislators
- LIKE:STAR: Support Texas Adoptee Rights and Share their Updates!
- FOLLOW: TXAdopteeRights on Twitter!
- SIGNUP:: and attend a meeting.
Are there any plans for a OBC bill in California?
Good news for PA adoptees like my hubby. Unfortunately, SC where my adoption happened, doesn’t have any plans for changing the rules.
I like this article, but you’re forgetting F.A.C.E. Act. I won’t assume you’re a birth mom with U.S. citizenship rights, but maybe you could try to understand a little bit…theory if your child was adopted by someone in a different country, and then the country deported them as an adult because the laws classed them as an immigrant.
Anyways, hopefully some will want to help stop deportation of Internationally Adopted People by signing and supporting F.A.C.E. Act.