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On May 16, 2017 the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Pubic Health held a hearing on H1163/S1195. These (identical) bills if passed would empty the current Black Hole in Massachusetts access law and create unrestricted OBC access for all Massachusetts adoptees. Currently only those adopted in Massachusetts on or before July 17, 1974 and on after January 1, 2018 have unrestricted access.
The current bills passed favorably out of committee on May 30. H1163 (accompanied by S1195) has been forwarded to the House Committee on Steering, Policy, and Scheduling. Last session similar bills, with large bi-partisian support, landed in this committee where they sat without a vote until the session ended and they died. Go to our Legislative page [2] for details of current and past legislative activities in Massachusetts and other states).
H1163/S1195 are not Bastard Nation bills and OBC for MA is not a Bastard Nation partner. BN, however, supports these bills as written. Our submitted testimony is here [3].
Below is May 31, 2017 statement [4] from OBC for MA on current status and what you can do”
H.1163 and S.1195 were heard by the Joint Committee on Public Health on May 16. Thanks to everyone who attended the hearing, testified, and/or submitted written testimony. The Committee responded to our powerful voices and reported out favorably on May 30. H.1163 (accompanied by S.1195) has been referred the the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling!
Recap: The 2017 – 2018 legislative session began in January, and our bills were re-filed. Legislators had until Feb 3 to sign on as co-sponsors to the House bill. They may still sign on to the Senate bill. We have a total of 55 supporters. (See the complete list [5].) S.1195 An Act granting equal access to original birth certificates to all persons born in Massachusetts was filed in the Senate by Senator Jamie Eldridge. H.1163 An Act granting equal access to original birth certificates to all persons born in Massachusetts was filed in the House by Representatives Sean Garballey and Kate Hogan. Both bills were referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health. A hearing was held on Tuesday, May 16. The Joint Committee reported out favorably on May 30.
Please contact your legislators NOW to ask them to support BOTH bills. Find your legislator here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator [6]. We need your voice NOW! Please call, e-mail, fax, and/or Tweet your legislators to say that you want #equality for all adoptees born in MA.
Give everyone access to their original birth certificates.
Advocate for equal rights for ALL persons born in MA!