Bastard Nation
Action Alert!

Uniform Adoption Act Moving Through Wisconsin Legislature!

January 12, 2000

Please print this out and save it

Assembly Bill 526 was introduced on 10/12/99 by Representative David Cullen (D) and is being co-sponsored by Senator Joanne Heulsman (R), both of whom are attorneys. It has been referred to the Committee on Family Law.

UPDATE: This bill received a public hearing in the Family Law Committee on 1/6/00.

THIS BILL MUST BE STOPPED!

Under the provisions of this bill, an adoptee age 18 or older, would be allowed to request a copy of their original birth certificate, however, the bill seeks to expand and change the current veto system by requiring the state of Wisconsin to search out and notify a birthparent that a request for the obc has been made. It also extends the provision to allow descendents of the birthparents to also file a disclosure veto if the birthparent is deceased or shown to be legally incompetent. This disclosure veto is then valid for 99 years from the adoptee's date of birth!

In addition, in true UAA form, this bill seeks to add penalties for any person who makes an unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, whether identifying or non-identifying, or who gives or offers to give, or who accepts or offers to accept anything of value for that disclosure. Penalties include $10,000 fine or imprisonment for 9 months, or both for the first offense and fined $10,000 or imprisoned for 2 years or both for any 2nd or later offense.

AB 526 Sponsors

Please write the sponsors of this bill and ask them to withdraw their support of the UAA and let them know that the only acceptable records access provision is one that provides for adult adoptee access to their own original birth certificate without conditions or qualifications!

Representative David Cullen (D)
Room 216 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison 53708-8952
Telephone: (608) 267-9836, (888) 534-0013
Fax: (608) 282-3613
Email: Rep.Cullen@legis.state.wi.us

Senator Joanne Heulsman (R)
Room 5 South
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison 53707-7882
Telephone: (608) 266-2635, (800) 578-1457
Fax: (608) 267-5172
Email: Sen.Huelsman@legis.state.wi.us

Family Law Committee Members

Please write the Family Law committee members and ask them to vote NO on Assembly Bill 526!

Representative Carol Owens (R)
Room 105 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison 53708-8953
Telephone (608) 267-7990 or(888) 534-0053
Fax (608) 282-3653
Email: Rep.Owens@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Bonnie L. Ladwig (R)
Room 113 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison 53708-8952
Telephone (608) 266-9171or (888) 534-0063
Fax (608) 264-8384
Email: Rep.Ladwig@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Michael D. Huebsch (R)
Room 20 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison 53708-8952
Telephone (608) 266-0631 or (888) 534-0094
Fax (608) 266-7038
Email: Rep.Huebsch@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Mark L. Pettis (R)
Room 5 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison 53708-8953
Telephone (608) 267-2365
Email: Rep.Pettis@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Phil Montgomery (R)
Room 115 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison 53708-8953
Telephone (608) 266-5840 or (888) 534-0015
Email: Rep.Montgomery@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Tony Staskunas (D)
Room 124 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison 53708-8953
Telephone (608) 266-0620 or (888) 534-0015
Fax (608) 266-7038
Email: Rep.Staskunas@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Terese Berceau (D)
Room 322 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison 53708-8952
Telephone (608) 266-3784 or (888) 534-0015
Email: Rep.Berceau@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Peggy Krusick (D)
Room 128 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison 53708-8952
Telephone (608) 266-1733 or (888) 534-0015
Fax (608) 266-7038
Email: Rep.Krusick@legis.state.wi.us

Representative Michael A. Lehman (R)
Room 103 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison 53708-8952
Telephone (608) 267-2367 or (888) 534-0058
Email: Rep.Lehman@legis.state.wi.us

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