Current Legislation (2013)

^[1]2013  OBC ACCESS LEGISLATION

All information taken from official state legislative pages unless otherwise indicated. For more information on these bills, go to the appropriate links.

CONNECTICUT  SB59 ^[2]

• Description:  introduced as clean bill to restore unrestricted access for all, then re-written by committee to make bill prospective for othose adopted on or after July 1, 2014 when they reach the age of 21 (July 1 2035).
• Status:  February 20, 2013: hearing in Senate Health Committee
• Status:  March 11, 2013:  Vote to draft
• Status:  March 28, 2013:  Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health
• Copies of testimony ^[3]:  February 20 hearing (original clean bill) 

GEORGIA  HB524 ^[4]

• Description:  unrestricted access for all adoptees 18 and older; contact preference form
• Status:  March 5: 2nd reading in House

INDIANA  HB 1029 ^[5]

• Description:  open anonymous medical history records, non-ID and ID  to certain adoptive family members not currently eligible.
• Status:  February 4, 2013 passed House; referred to Senate
• Status:  February 25, 2013:  first reading scheduled
• Status: April 4, 2013:   Senate Judiciary – Do Pass
• Status:  April 10, 2013:  Returned to House with amendments (slight language changes)
• Status:   April 16, 2013:  House concurred in Senate amendments; passed unanimously.
• Status: April 17, 2013:  Signed by Speaker
• Status:  April 18, 2013:  Signed by President Pro Tempore;  Passed.
• Status:  April  29, 2013:  Signed by governor
• Read:   Indiana:  Anonymous Medical Histories – Not Rights ^[6]

MARYLAND  HB22 ^[7]   (Companion to SB165)

• Description:  Remove  disclosure vetoes in the current law regarding adoptions finalized from 2000 and forward
• Status:   February 11, 2013, Judicial Proceedings  Committee–Unfavorable report.  DEAD

MARYLAND   SB165 ^[8]  (Companion to HB22)

• Description: Remove  disclosure vetoes in the current law regarding adoptions finalized from 2000 and forward
• Status:   February 12, 2013,  hearing in Senate Judiciary cancelled
• Status:   March 5, 2013: Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings  Withdrawn.  DEAD

MINNESOTA   HB848  ^[9] (Companion to (SB22)

• Description:  Unrestricted access to all adoptees 18 and older
• Status:   Introduced, 1st reading; referred to Human Services Policy Committee
• Status: March 13, 2013: hearinag before Human Services Policy Committee scheduled
• Status:  TABLED 
•  Read: Jim Hamilton’s testimony ^[10] before the House Human Services Policy Committee, March 13, 2013
•  Listen:  Jim Hamilton’s testimony ^[11] before the House Human Services Policy Committee, March 13, 2013 ( about 2/3 through)
•  Read:  Adult Adoptees Should Have an Unconditional Right to their Own Birth Certificates  ^[12]by Jim Hamilton, MinnPost, March 14, 2013

MINNESOTA  SF981  ^[13] (Companion to HB848)

• Description:  Unrestricted access to all adoptees 18 and older
• Status   March 4, 20013:  Introduced; referred to Judiciary Committee
• Status:  TABLED 

MISSOURI  HB252 ^[14]

• Description:  Restricted access:  Disclosure Veto
• Status:  February 19, 2013:  HSC voted Do Not Pass
• Status:  March 7:  Rules Committee–no action taken
• Status:  March 11, 2013– Judiciary Committee voted Do Pass
• Status:  April 18, 2013–Third reading;  Passed
• Status:  May 9, 20113: Senate Executive Session of Senate Seniors, Families, and Pensions voted Do Pass
• Status:  May 15, 2013:  SCS  Reported Do Pass
• Status:  DEAD

MONTANA SB384 ^[15]

• Description:  Restore right of unrestricted OBC access to those adopted  between July 1, 1967-September 30, 1997 creating equity for all current timeframes. Maintians Disclosure Veto option.
• Status:  Introduced March 8, 2013
• Status:  March 21, 2013:  Hearing in House Judiciary Committee;  Bill passed;  Listen  ^[16]to House Judiciary Committee hearing
• Status: April 11, 2013:   tabled in House Judiciary Committee
• Status:  April 24, 2013:  DEAD.  Died in Judiciary  Committee

NEW JERSEY  S2814 ^[17] (Companion to A4253)

• Description:  unrestricted access at 18; contact preference form; required medical and social history form of pdf is filed
• Status:  May 30, 2013:  introduced
• Status:  June 13, 2013 passed Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee voted 9-0 with one abstention
• 6/20/2013 Passed by the Senate (30-8)
• 6/20/2013 Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee

NEW JERSEY  A4253 ^[18] (Companion to S2814)

• Description:  unrestricted access at 18; contact preference form; required medical and social history form of pdf is filed
• Status:  6/24/2013  Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee

NEW JERSEY   S2917 ^[19]    Summary ^[19]

Description:  very confusing bill. and difficult to read.   This is what it seems to say:

For those adopted before date of bill’s effect:  access to adoptees 18 and older; aparents or guardians of those under 18, and direct descants.  For release of  OBC, requester must furnish written notarized consent of birthparent(s). If bparents are unknown, state required to send a list of adoption agencies willing to act as Confidential Intermediaries who will search for them. If consent is acquired OBC and current contact information will be released to requester.  If one parent consents and the other doesn’t;  name of nonconsenting parent will be redacted. Those who refuse consent must submit medical history.  If bparent(s) cant be located after 1 year search,  OBC released .

For those adopted after effective date of bill:  bparents have opportunity to fill out consent form for full access to OBC or appoint CI. Medical history required.

Any person relinquished via safe haven law will not e able to access OBC or ID information.

Status:   July 29, 2013 Introduced; Referred to Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizen Committee

NEW YORK  A909 ^[20]   (Companion to  S2490)

• Description:  Unrestricted access
• Status:   January 9, 2013  referred to Health Committee;  Not on House Calendar; no hearings scheduled
• Status:  April 23, 2013:  Scheduled for vote in Health Committee.
• Status:  April 24, 2013:  Reported; referred to codes.

NEW YORK   S2490A ^[21]  (Companion to A9009)

• Description:   Unrestricted access
• Status:  January 17, 2013, recommitted to Senate Health Committee; Not on House Calendar; no hearings scheduled

OHIO   HB61 ^[22]   (Companion to  SB23)

READ:  Presentation  to Adoption Lawyers on Access to  OBC Access in Ohi ^[23]o by Marley Greiner, January 17, 2013

• Description:  (1) Ohio adoptees adopted 1964 to 1996 access to their Original Birth Certificate upon request at age 18, starting one year from bill passage date. (Records are already accessible to adoptees pre-1964 and for the most part, post-1996) (2)  Ohio birthparents to file a Contact Preference Form specifying if and how they would like contact. (3) Ohio birthparents to complete and put on file an updated medical history for the adoptee.
• Status: Introduced January 13, 2013
• Status: HB 63:  February 13, 2013: sent to House Judiciary Committee;
• Status: March 6, 2013:  Proponent testimony
• Status:  March 13, 2013: Proponent testimony; voted Do Pass 12-0;
• Status:  April 9, 2013, Passed House 94-1 with 2 abstentions
• Read:  Ohio HB 63 House Judiciary Sponsor Hearing Report ^[24]
• Read:   Hell Freezes Over. Ohio Right to Life drops opposition to OBC access; testifies in support. ^[25]  Read testimony ^[26]
• Read:   Hell Freezes Over Again. Ohio Catholic Conference drops oppostion to OBC access; testified in support.  (temporarily unavailable) Read CCO testimony ^[27], 
  
•   ^[28]Read:  Breaking News: House Passes HB61 ^[28].

OHIO  SB23 ^[29]  (Companion with HB63)

Description:  (1) Ohio adoptees adopted 1964 to 1996 access to their Original Birth Certificate upon request at age 18, starting one year from bill passage date. (Records are already accessible to adoptees pre-1964 and for the most part, post-1996) (2)  Ohio birthparents to file a Contact Preference Form specifying if and how they would like contact. (3) Ohio birthparents to complete and put on file an updated medical history for the adoptee.

READ:  Presentation  to Adoption Lawyers on Access to  OBC Access in Ohi ^[23]o by Marley Greiner, January 17, 2013

• Status:  January 13, 2013:  Introduced
• Status:   February 13, 2013:  sent to Senate Medicaid, Health and Human Services Committee
• Status: SB23:  Sponsor hearing
• Status:  April 17, 2013, PM, Proponent testimony heard in Senate Medicaid, Health and Human Services Committee.
• Status:  April 24, 2013,  9:00AM.  Passed Senate Medicaid and Human Services Committee unanimously’  procedural amendments added which will not affect the substance of the bill. Bill will be tied up in Senate while the Ohio budget is addressed.
• Status:  December 4, 2013:  Pass senate Civil Law and Rules Committees with amendment to redact parent(s) name upon request within one year of effective date;  passed Senate unanimously 33-0.
• Read:  Ohio Report: Proponent Testimony for SB23, April 17, 2013 ^[30]
• Read:  Ohio Right to Life Senate testimony ^[31]
• Read:    ^[32]Ohio Catholic Conference Senate testimony ^[32]
• Read:  SB 23 Passes Out of Committee with Amendments ^[33]\
• NOTE:   Action expected after summer recess in September.

OKLAHOMA  HB1118 ^[34]

• Description:  unrestricted access for all adult adoptees (no age specified); contact preference form
• Status:  February 5, 2013: 2nd reading referred to Human Services Committee

OREGON  SB623 ^[35]

• Description:  In the spirit of Measure 58, the  bill expands openness and transparency in adoption.  Pertaining to adoptee rights, the age of OBC access will be lowered from 21 to 18.  The entire adoption file, except for the Home Study will be made available to the adoptee upon request at the age of 18 without a court order.  The Home Study may be released by court order for “good cause.”  Under SB 623, birth parents who were original parties to the adoption may view and copy documents in the court adoption file to which they were signatories. Under existing law birth parents must petition the courts to gain access to documents they were required to sign, and often are rejected by courts under the onerous and undefined “good cause” doctrine. The new law would provide these documents upon request.
• Status:  March 20, 2013:  Introduced in Senate
• Status:  April 11, 2013:  Work Session voted unanimously Do Pass out of Senate Judiciary Committee.  Listen ^[36] (1hr and 1 minute into broadcast)
• Status:  Apr 18, 2013: Recommendation: Do pass with amendments.
• Status:  April 23, 2013:  Passed Senate unanimously
• Status:  May 14, 2013:  unanimous do pass vote out of Judiciary;   waiting a calendar date for a house floor vote.    No amendments have been offered, no objections have been filed. Bill expected to pass and governor expected to sign.
• Status:  May 31, 2013:  Passed House unanimously. Awaiting governor’s signature.
• Status:  June 6, 2013:  SB 623 is now Measure 623- it was signed by Governor Kitzhaber on Thursday, June 6, 2013 and will be effective January 1, 2014. At that time Oregon adult adoptees may access their adoption court file upon request, complementing the right to access granted by 1998’s  Measure 58.
• Read:   Opening Adoption Records t o Adoptees  and First Parents ^[37] by Jane Edwards, [BirthMother]First Mother Forum
• Read:   ^[38]Breaking News:  SB623 Signed by Kitz; Oregon continues to stand for adoptee rights ^[38]

Pennsylvania   HB162 ^[39]

• Description:  Unrestricted access
• Status:   January 17, 2013:  referred to Children and Youth Committee
• Status:  July 17, 2013:  hearing scheduled in CYC
• October 23, 2013: PASSED House
• October 30, 2013:  Referred To Senate Aging and Youth Committee
• Watch July 17, 2013 hearing in CYC  ^[40]

Texas HB1014 ^[41]  (companion with SB714)

• Description:  Permits state to do search for biological parents listed on sealed OBC but unknown to adoptee.  If  listed parent(s)  is determimed to be deceased,  the OBC will be released
• Status:  February 6, 2013:  Introduced
• Status:  February 18, 2013:  Referred to House Public Health Committee
• Status:  DEAD

Texas   SB714 ^[42] (Companion with HB1014)

• Description:  Permits state to do search for biological parents listed on sealed OBC but unknown to adoptee.  If  listed parent(s)  is determined to be deceased,  the OBC will be released
• Status:  February 21, 2013: filed
• Status:  March 11. 2013  passed favorably out of Senate Jurisprudence Committee
• Status:     March 13, 2013:  placed on Intent Calendar
• Status:  DEAD

Washington  HB1525 ^[43]

• Description:   Restricted access for adoptees 18 and older;  Disclosure Veto
• Details:    makes disclosure of non-identifying information of a birth parent, adoptee, or adoptive parent mandatory, upon request;  Allows an adult adoptee to obtain an uncertified copy of the original birth certificate,regardless of when the adoption was finalized, unless the birth parent has filed an affidavit of nondisclosure; Requires the Department of Health to conduct a search to determine if a birth parent who signed an affidavit of nondisclosure is deceased, upon request of the adoptee; Amends provisions of the statutes relating to birth certificates to include genderneutral terms
• Status:  February 19, 2013  scheduled for Exe. Session of House Judiciary.
• Status:  February 25, 2013:  Majority:  Do Pass; Minority: Do Not Pass
• Status:  March 1:  Pass to House Rules Committee for second reading
• Status:  March 6, 2013:
• Note:  only 4 Disclosure Vetoes have been filed since 1993, all of them in 2012.
• Status:  March 6, 2013:  Passed House 93-2
• Status:  March 8:  Passed to Senate; 1st reading in Human Services and Corrections Committee
• March 21, 2013:  Public hearing scheduled before Human Services and Corrections Committee
• Status:  April 16, 2013:  Third reading; Passed. Sent to Governor.
• Status:  May 21, 2013:  Signed by governor.
• Effective Date:  June 28, 2013
• Note:   ND: Disclosure Veto removed from SB5118, but remains in this bill.
• Note:   February ?, 2013: Amended bill introduced in Senate to revert to original Disclosure Veto language.
• Status:  April 23: Passed by Senate
• Status: April 24:  Signed by President of Senate
• Status: April 25, Delivered to governor
• Read:  Bastard Nation testimony in opposition to bill, ^[44]March 21, 2013
•   ^[45]Watch: Lori Jeske, BN ExeCommittee member testify against HB1525 before the Senate Social Services and Corrections Committee ^[45], March 21, 2013
• Read: Washington HB 1525: Amend Out Vetoes ^[46]
• Read:   ^[47]Washington Battleground: The Annual Murder of Adoptee Rights Continues ^[47]
• Read:  Bastard Nation Action Alert:  Stop HB1525 and SB 5118 Today!   ^[48]
• Read: Bastard  Nation’s letter of opposition to HB1525  to Gov. Inslee ^[49]

Washington  SB5118 ^[50]

• Description:   (Restricted access, Disclosure Veto)*
• Status:  January 28, 2013:  Hearing, Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee;  2/12/2013:
•  *Note:  February 12, 2013:  Disclosure  veto removed from this bill and  replaced by CPF making this version a clean bill.   DV remains in companion HB 1525.  Referred to Rules Committee
• Status: F ebruary 19, 2013:  Placed on second reading in Rules Committee
• Status: February ?, 2013:  Amended bill introduced to revert to original  Disclosure  Veto language
• Status:  March 13, 2013:  First hearing in House; ; unofficially referred to House Judiciary Committee
• Status:  March 26, 2013:  Second hearing in House; Read ^[51]: Bastard Nation testimony in opposition to bill
• Status:   April 4, 2013:  Hearing in House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health & Human Services; passed
• Status:  April 9, 2013:  Passed out of House Rules Committee
• Status: April 12, 2013: Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
• Status: Returned to Senate Rules for 3rd reading
•  Read: Washington HB 1525: Amend Out Vetoes ^[46]
• Read:  Bastard Nation Action Alert:  Stop HB1525 and SB 5118 Today! ^[48]

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