Friends of clean adoption reform,
EXCELLENT NEWS! Today (6.20.22), we learned that Governor John Bel Edwards recently signed HB450 into law, making Louisiana the 12th state to announce a policy of unrestricted access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees (New York was 9th* in 2020)! We congratulate all the advocates at the Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform for their lead advocacy! Check their site, as the 8/1/22 effective date approaches, for confirmation of birth certificate application procedures to be developed soon!
Louisiana becomes the second state to enact clean adoption reform in 2022! Victory in Vermont was announced in May! (VT effective date is July 1, 2023).
The provisions (via Act 470), will take effect soon (August 1, 2022). They will:
- Restore unrestricted access to original birth certificates (OBC) for all adult adoptees who have reached the age 24 and above (uncertified copy)
- Provide for procedure to secure an uncertified copy of the original birth certificate consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act “for a certified copy of a vital record in the custody of the vital records registry”
- Allow non-binding contact preferences to be filed
We were very glad to support the bill, HB450, via the American Adoption Congress (AAC). Our Senate Committee letter also contains links to each support letter from this session.
We continue to thank you, and all who support adoptee rights.
Adoptee rights are human rights!
Adoptee rights are civil rights!
Adoptee equality will be restored in all 50 states!
Tim.
*Note: Previously, we noted New York as the 10th state, but is now noted as the 9th state. Hawaii access law requires an adjustment to restore its position as an unrestricted access state.
States with a policy of unrestricted OBC access for adult adoptees (alphabetical): Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana (effective date August 1, 2022), Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont (VT primary provisions take effect July 1, 2023)