Date: 03/25/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-051

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-051 to the Committee on FinanPASS



03:15 PM -- SB14-051

Representative Saine introduced Senate Bill 14-051. The bill eliminates different standards of access to adoption records for adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents, as well as their descendants, based on the law in existence on the date the adoption was finalized. Generally, the bill retains current policy that adoption records are confidential from the general public, unless the requesting party is eligible under statute to access the records or the court finds good cause for their release. Current policy is also retained that allows eligible relatives of a deceased birth parent or a deceased adult adoptee to access adoption records concerning that person.

03:18 PM -- Kathy Aderhold, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and regarding her experience relinquishing a child for adoption. She noted that most birth parents were not provided with copies of the surrender documents, and the documents that the birth mother signed generally required that the birth mother not contact the child. Ms. Aderhold stated that birth mothers are advocating for open access to adoption records by adult adoptees and explained that eight states are considering similar legislation. She noted that adult adoptees from certain time periods have access to the records and the bill's intent is to create equal access to records for all adult adoptees.

03:25 PM -- Shayne Madsen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C). She shared her personal experience as an adult adoptee and noted that records were related to her adoption were closed. Ms. Madsen stated that the bill is intended to allow all adult adoptees the same access to records. She responded to questions from the committee regarding why adult adoptees who were born from 1951 to 1967 are allowed access to records while those born in other years are not.

14HsePHS0325AttachC.pdf14HsePHS0325AttachC.pdf

03:31 PM -- Samantha Jadin, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and discussed her personal experience as an adoptee. She spoke regarding the importance of openness and transparency regarding adoptions, and discussed the efforts to allow open access to adoption records.

03:34 PM -- Rich Uhrlaub, Adoptees in Search, testified in support of the bill and noted the various group that support the legislation. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the changes that were made to the bill in the Senate and the liability of counties that are in possession of adoption records.

03:42 PM

Representative Saine gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. Members of the committee commented on the bill.
BILL:SB14-051
TIME: 03:44:33 PM
MOVED:Young
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-051 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Ginal
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Everett
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
McCann
Yes
Schafer
Yes
Singer
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Wilson
Excused
Young
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




03:46 PM

The committee adjourned.