Bastard Nation Action Alert: Massachusetts H2294/S1440 – Contact Joint Committee on Public Health, Vote Do Pass

H2294/S1440 are not Bastard Nation bills and we are not affiliated with Access Massachusetts, but we have long supported this bill and similar bills in the state. See the BN Massachusetts State and Legislation pages for more information on that history and support.

H 2294  and its identical S1440 read in full:

SECTION 1. Section 2B of chapter 46 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the words “on or before July 17, 1974 or on or after January 1, 2008”.

SECTION 2. Said section 2B of chapter 46, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 6, the words “on or after January 1, 2008”

We urge you to:

(1) Submit or present live testimony, email letters of support or call members of the committee and urge them to vote Do Pass and move the measure to a floor vote.

(2) Ask friends and family in Massachusetts to contact the committee.  The more legislators hear from constituents, the greater the chance of success.

Below is the Action Alert distributed by Access Massachusetts with details on the bill and testimony information. 

Here is the contact information for individual committee members:

Senate:  

• Joanne M Comerford, Chair
• Susan L Moran,  Vice Chair
• Harriette L Chandler
• Julian Cyr
• Patrick M. O’Connor

House

• Marjorie C Decker, Chair
• Brian W. Murray, Vice-Chair
• Paul A Schmid, III
• Jack Patrick Lewis
• Andres X Vargas
• Jon Santiago
• Brian M Ashe
• Kay Kahn
• Vanna Howard
• Hannah Kane
• Shawn Dooley

Quick

Jo.Comerford@masenate.gov. susan.moran@masenate.gov, Harriette.Chandler@masenate.gov. julian.cyr@masenate.gov, Patrick.OConnor@masenate.gov, Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov. Brian.Murray@mahouse.gov, Paul.Schmid@mahouse.gov.  Jack.Lewis@mahouse.gov.  andy.vargas@mahouse.gov, jon.santiago@mahouse.gov,  Brian.Ashe@mahouse.gov, Kay.Kahn@mahouse.gov, Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov,  Hannah.Kane@mahouse.gov, Shawn.Dooley@mahouse.gov

Access Massachusetts bills H.2294/S.1440 –

An Act granting equal access to original birth certificates to all persons born in Massachusetts –

Virtual Hearing, MAY 10

Testimony may be submitted in advance or may be presented live during the virtual hearing via Microsoft Teams.  YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR EITHER OR BOTH BY THURSDAY MAY 6 at 5:00 PM using this link:

 https://forms.gle/wANyvmHRPmqVFCtu9

H.2294 was filed in the House by Representatives Sean Garballey and Kate Hogan.

S.1440 was filed in the Senate by Senator Anne Gobi.

This is the fourth time we have filed legislation in Massachusetts to abolish the gap years that deny adoptees access to their own original birth certificates if they were born between July 17, 1974 and January 1, 2008.  It is long past time to correct this inequality.  PLEASE testify or submit written testimony!  There is strength in numbers. Please ask the committee to report out favorably on H.2294/S.1440.  Tell the committee why YOU want access to your birth certificate, and/or why you support these bills. Documents on our website may help you craft your testimony. Please note that oral testimony is limited to 3 minutes per person.

PLEASE copy your testimony to us at OBCforMA@gmail.com

Hearing Description:

https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/3692

Local and Regional Boards of Health; Vital Records Persons who wish to testify, submit written testimony, or both, may sign up and/or submit written testimony by completing this form:

 https://forms.gle/wANyvmHRPmqVFCtu9

For those who have signed up to testify, the committee will provide a link to join the public hearing. Persons planning to testify must sign up no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2021. Those who do not plan to testify but want to watch the public hearing may view the live stream under the Hearings & Events section of the legislative website.

This is YOUR fight – please make sure we win.