Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization

PO Box 4607

New Windsor, New York 12553-7845

www.bastards.org 614-795-6819 @bastardsunite

REVISED: January 22, 2021
BASTARD NATION ACTION ALERT
Distribute Freely!
January 20, 2021

Maryland needs your help today

Please contact the Maryland Senate Judiciary Proceedings Committee

Do Pass SB 331

Read bill here.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee has scheduled a hearing for SB 331 on January 26, 2021.

SB 331 is a non-restricted, non-conditional bill to restore the right of all Maryland -born adoptees at the age of 18 or older to receive a copy of their Original Birth Certificate upon request. It is sponsored by Senator Susan Lee. A companion House bill should be introduced shortly.

Current law permits those whose adoptions were finalized on or after January 1, 2000 access to their OBC, subject to a Disclosure Veto. Those adopted before that date must obtain a court order.

SB 331 unseals all OBCs, and sunsets the few DVS on file converting them to contact preferences indicating no contact is preferred.

Last year this bill was introduced as HB 1039. it passed the House unanimously but died in the Senate due to Covid Chaos..

Bastard Nation has prepared testimony and will post it after the hearing.

IMPORTANT:

ATTENTION: If you are a Maryland-born adoptee or currently live in Maryland please contact the Senate Judiciary Committee today!

Maryland Adoptee Rights reports the following: on how to submit testimony

A hearing is scheduled for the Senate Bill on January 26, 2021, at 1 PM.

Below is a link to video tutorials. Click on the witness sign up for info on submitting written and oral testimony.

We are making a list of people who wish to submit oral testimony. There is a limit in the House of 30 one minute “favorable” testimonies. Don’t know how many in the Senate yet.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Information/VideoTutorials

WHAT WE REQUEST FROM YOU.

1. If you were involved in the 2020 legislation, you wrote a letter and/or a separate testimony: We need for you to update your letter/testimony with BILL # and date and anything else you notice that could pertain to, or mention 2020. If you are new in participating, write what you wish to write, from your heart, from your frustration, and desire to see these Bills pass.

2. Send a copy of your letter/testimony to your Senator if you are a Maryland Resident.

3. Email your testimony to all the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee. Their email addresses are included at the end of this letter.

4. Email a copy to us at the email addresses below.

You can watch last year’s video testimony of the Senate and House Bills from 2020:HB 1039 –https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Media/false?cmte=jud&clip=JUD_2_20_2020_meeting_1&ys=2020rsSB 0743 –

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Media/false?cmte=jpr&clip=JPR_2_25_2020_meeting_1&ys=2020rs

We hope your enthusiasm to pass these Bills still is with you after this very difficult year. We look forward to hearing from you.

SS, LC, PK

Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee members:

Chair
Smith, William C., Jr. – will.smith@senate.state.md.us
District 20
Montgomery County

Vice Chair
Waldstreicher, Jeff – jeff.waldstreicher@senate.state.md.us
District 18
Montgomery County

jack.bailey@senate.state.md.us
District 29
Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties

jill.carter@senate.state.md.us
District 41
Baltimore City

Bob.Cassilly@senate.state.md.us
District 34
Harford County

shelly.hettleman@senate.state.md.us
District 11
Baltimore County