Bastard Nation
Action Alert!

March 8, 2000

CONNECTICUT BILL VIOLATES RIGHTS OF ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS

Please write, fax, and call the Connecticut General Assembly Human Services Committee members to stall the fast-track to pass RB 5764, a bill that would subject individuals born/adopted between October 1, 1977 and the effective date of this bill to different procedures to obtain legal records than those born before October 1, 1977 and after the effective date of this bill. In short, it only recognizes the absolute right to such information for some adoptees, but not others!

PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON THIS BILL TOMORROW, MARCH 9TH AT 10:00 AM. If you are a Connecticut resident, please plan to attend this hearing and testify against this bill. The hearing will be held in room 2A.

RB 5764:

Provides for access to original birth certificate and identifying information in possession of a child placing agency or the Department of Children, upon request, IF parental rights were terminated before 10/1/77 and after effective date of this bill. If parental rights were terminated after 10/1/77 and before the effective date of this bill, the bill provides for access to original birth certificate and identifying information in possession of a child placing agency or the Department of Children upon court order only. In addition, notice will be sent to the biological parent that a request has been made, and that the information will be released unless the birthparent files an objection within 20 days of notice. If the birthparents can not be contacted directly, a notice is to be published in a newspaper "having substantial general circulation". Also establishes a registry for birthparents to receive notice of a request for identifying information.

Some particularly galling wording in the bill requires that for access to examination of a birth record, a judge must rule that the court is of the opinion that the "examination of the record ... will not be detrimental to the public interest or to the welfare of the adopted person or to the welfare of the genetic or adoptive parent or parents."

Civil rights should NOT be conditioned on case-by-case determinations of welfare.

Connecticut legislators need to know that ALL adult adopted individuals have an unqualified right to their identity!

Read the text of SB 171 at
http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2000/tob/h/2000hb-05764-r00-hb.htm

See our position paper on conditional access legislation at http://www.bastards.org/documents/Conditional_Access_Legislation.html

Write, fax, call today!
Legislative Committee
Bastard Nation
www.bastards.org

CONNECTICUT HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBER CONTACT INFORMATION:

CT Adoptee Activism
Bastard Nation Alert! http://www.bastards.org/alert/