Washington State Governor John Inslee’s request for the public to help the state track down birthparents to warn them that OBCs may be opened and their bastards put on the loose.
From: DOH DCHS CHS SHB1525 <SHB1525@DOH.WA.GOV>
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 1:22 PM
Subject: New Law about Pre-Adoption Birth Certificates
New Law about Original (pre-adoption) Birth Certificates
On July 28, 2013, a new law (SHB 1525) took effect in Washington state that allows all adoptees to obtain original (pre-adoption) birth certificates. It also expands the options birth parents have for releasing their identity or keeping it confidential.
· Birth parents can now file contact preference and medical history forms with the Department of Health.
· Beginning July 1, 2014 all adoptees 18 and older can get an original birth certificate unless a birth parent files a contact preference form indicating that he or she does not want the information released.
· Until July 1, 2014, original birth certificates are only available to adoptees age 18 and older if the adoption occurred after October 1, 1993 and the birth parent has not filed a contact preference form indicating that he or she does not want the information released.
We will post more information about the new law and answers to frequently asked questions on our website over the next year. We encourage you to visit the website periodically or send your email address to SHB1525@doh.wa.gov to receive updates by email. For general questions about original birth certificates contact us at ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-4300.
Governor’s Directive Regarding the New Law
In addition to the work we will be doing to implement the new law, we will also be responding to Governor Inslee’s directive to the Department of Health to identify options for contacting birth parents about the change in law in an effort to protect their confidentiality.
We invite the public to comment on how we may be able to contact birth parents. You may send your comments by email to SHB1525@doh.wa.gov or by mail to Dept. of Health, Attn: SHB1525, PO BOX 47814 Olympia, WA 98504-7814. The deadline for sending comments is August 30, 2013.
More information about our timeline and responding to the Governor’s directive is available on our website.
Email us at SHB1525@doh.wa.gov to if you want to be removed from this mailing list.
Public Health – Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Washington
