LegWatch

This is an archive of the original Bastard Quarterly newsletter, edited by Damsel Plum and Charles Filius. It was published in print and on the web between 1997 and 2002.

LegWatch

(This article first appeared in the Winter 1998 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)

Maryland

A variety of veto, registry, and intermediary legislation is pending in committee in the MD Legislature. SB 276 establishes procedures for release of non-identifying information through the state's mutual consent registry. HB 214 and its companion bill, SB 114, establish a complex intermediary system. Senate bill hearings are scheduled for March 5th at 1pm. You can follow the progress of these bills at the MD Legislative Website at http://mlis.state.md.us/ or by contacting Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Jackie Patrick Fox at (919) 469-3694. (See Regional Director list in this issue for further contact information)

New Jersey

The New Jersey Coalition for Openness in Adoption wisely decided not to compromise their "white-out" bills, A742 and S287, any further in order to get them passed. Once their bills died, NJCOA went a step further and decided next year to attempt a bill without veto provisions. To participate in the open records battle in NJ, contact John Peret at mjshay@ix.netcom.com or phone (732) 240-9659.

Oregon

Oregon activists, under the leadership of Bastard National Helen Hill, continue their historic signature-gathering to put Measure 46 on the ballot. This measure would give all adult adoptees a copy of their original birth certificate. It is always a monumental effort to gather the required signatures for a ballot initiative. Please join Helen and volunteer by phoning her at 503-368-5786 or emailing henry@pdx.oneworld.com.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has formed an advisory committee to assist the Pennsylvania Joint State Commission's Task Force on Adoption Law. Bastard Nation's Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Cynthia Kathryn Bertrand Holub has been appointed to the advisory committee. In the legislature, the Uniform Adoption Act which would seal records for 99 years, has been introduced again this year as SB 544 and HB 1672. but no action is expected to be taken while three committees (Senate, House, and Joint State) study all aspects of adoption in PA.

Bastard Nationals and others worked together to quash the PA UAA threat in early 1997. To get active in PA, contact Cindy Bertrand Holub at 215-843-6220. (See Regional Director list in this issue for further contact information)

Tennessee

TN's semi-open records bill which passed in 1996, continues to remain under a court injunction. The State of TN won the federal case, but the state case brought by the ACLJ is still pending in the TN State Court of Appeals. A decision is expected by the summer of 1998, although the losing side is likely to appeal to the TN Supreme Court.

Washington

HB 2810 and SB 6496, which would have provided a copy of the original birth certificate to adult adoptees on request, passed both committees in the House and Senate by wide margins. Unfortunately in this short, 60-day legislative session, the bills did not make it out of the Rules committee before the cut-off date of February 17th. Washington activists intend to try again next year, and are pleased with the success and huge positive public response they received the first time around. If you would like to participate in WA State open records, please email Shea Grimm at sheag@oz.net. (See Regional Director list in this issue for further contact information)

(This article first appeared in the Winter 1998 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)