SB-1614 was passed by the California Assembly and Senate in August, despite valiant efforts by adoptee rights activists and opposition partners to thwart it. The bill is currently headed to the Governor's desk for signature. SB 1614 severely curtails access by ordinary citizens to the state birth and death indices, which have been public record in California since the early 1900s. Most adoptees born in California are listed under their original names on the birth index, so this record was the only truthful source of birth information for adoptees born in that state. Bastard Nationals Ron Morgan, Jean Uhrich and Nina Greeley orchestrated a strong opposition coalition that linked California adoptee rights activists with genealogists, bankers, first amendment supporters, journalists, and others in a stand against government secrecy. Nevertheless, the bill passed both chambers of the California legislature following a series of amendments, one of which permits those who lawfully purchased the indices prior to December 2001 to continue to display them on the internet.
California adoptee rights supporters continue to mobilize for future efforts to open records to adult adoptees in that state. To find out how to help out, visit the STAR web site at: www.adopteerights.org or e-mail directly at: star@adopteerights.org for more information. Supporters are also urged to join the e-mail discussion list to become actively involved in California efforts. Subscribe at: adopteerights-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
HB-1195, an unconditional original birth certificate access bill, failed to progress this year in the Missouri legislature. The Missouri Open group plans to reintroduce legislation in January 2003 and is monitoring upcoming elections to identify supportive legislators in both chambers. Contact Carol Kurtz (Kurtz3@aol.com) or Lindsay Woodside (quilter@bluevalley.net) to find out how you can help with the Missouri effort.
Arkansas Open 2003, a grassroots coalition of adoptee rights activists, continues to need volunteers for an upcoming effort to introduce open records legislation next year. Visit the web site and get involved: http://www.geocities.com/arkansasopen2003/. Contact Shanna Wells Castle (beatnikluv@earthlink.net), Angie Conley (arctrygr@hotmail.com), or Tammie Biffle (tamtam222@go.com) to join this volunteer effort.
Members of Louisiana Adoption Advocates are organizing to reintroduce adoptee rights legislation in 2003. Contact Kenny Tucker (ktucker@dkslaw.com ) to find out how you can help, or visit the Louisiana group's website at http://laa.digimarkz.com/01/ for further information.
HB1127, an unconditional open records bill, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and was referred to the Rules Committee for a date to be assigned to be heard on the floor. Rules did not act on HB1127, allowing time to run out and essentially killing this bill.
SB859, HB1471: Broad Adoption Reform Bill recommended by the PA Advisory Committee. The records section of the bill includes expansion of the confidential intermediary system for adoptees born before passage of this Act, and access to Records if the CI searcher fails to locate a birthparent to secure permission within 18 months. Adoptees born after passage would have unconditional access to the original birth certificate. Bill is pending; to be heard by the Senate.
See http://bastards.org/alert/pa-alert.html for information on how to contact PA senators to urge them to restore unconditional records access to ALL adult adoptees.
Bill 77, a conditional records bill, was heard by the Standing Committee on General Government. The bill passed out of this committee with two main amendments: contact veto fine increased to $10,000, and wording changed from "no contact notice" to "contact veto." Bill 77 might reach third reading at the session beginning Sept. 23, 2002.
The new Child Welfare Act adoption legislation will likely include conditionally open records with both disclosure and contact vetoes. The draft legislation is planned to be ready by January 2003. See the review committee's web site for more information on projected dates: www.childwelfareact.gov.ab.ca.
(This feature appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)
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