Bill Explanation: Access to Original Birth Certificates by Adult Adopted Persons

This bill aims to provide access to original birth certificates for adult adopted persons in Connecticut, regardless of their date of birth. It seeks to repeal and substitute certain sections of the current general statutes.

Section 1:

This section deals with subsection (c) of section 7-53 of the general statutes. It states that upon written request, the registrar of vital statistics of the town where an adopted person was born must issue an uncertified copy of the original certificate of birth to the adopted person (if they are 18 years or older), their adult child, or grandchild. The copy will be marked as superseded by a replacement certificate of birth. It also requires the certificate to include information regarding the birth parents' preferences for contact and a completed medical health history form by the birth parent, which may be on file with the Department of Children and Families.

Section 2:

This section repeals and substitutes section 7-53a of the general statutes. It removes the requirement for the Commissioner of Public Health to submit an annual report on the number of original birth certificates issued to adopted persons 18 years or older. Instead, it requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to submit a report on the number of contact preference forms and medical health history forms filed with the Department of Children and Families, including the number of birth parents that selected each option described in section 17a-60a.

Section 3:

This section repeals and substitutes subsection (c) of section 45a-751b of the general statutes. It requires the registrar of vital statistics of the town where an adopted person was born to issue an uncertified copy of the original birth certificate to the adopted person (if they are 18 years or older), their adult child, or grandchild upon written request, regardless of the date parental rights were terminated. It is similar to section 1 but specifically applies to adoptions finalized on or after October 1, 2020.

Section 4:

This section repeals and substitutes section 45a-751c of the general statutes. It clarifies the process for an authorized applicant (defined in section 45a-743) to petition the Probate Court or the Superior Court for an uncertified copy of the original birth certificate. The court can issue an order directing the Department of Public Health to issue the copy if the person named in the birth certificate is deceased and if either the birth parent consents, is deceased, or a legal representative or guardian ad litem consents to the release of identifying information.

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of this bill is to allow all adult adopted persons in Connecticut to access their original birth records, regardless of their date of birth. It aims to provide transparency and access to important personal information for adopted individuals.

Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey

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