Adoption records that include identifying information such as names and addresses of birth parent(s) are sealed by the Department of Health unless the person whose information is sought has consented to the release or they are released pursuant to a court order. Assembly bill A. 909 (Weprin)/S.2490-A (Lanza) would allow an adopted person who is at least eighteen years of age to obtain from the Department of Health a copy of his or her original birth certificate which includes identifying information of the birth parents such as their name and address at the time of the adoption and/or a medical history form if available. The bill would permit access to birth certificates sealed before the effective date of the legislation as well as those for births that occur after the effective date. The bill allows a birth parent to protect his or her privacy by completing a contact preference form at any time. The contact preference form provides the birth parent with the option to be contacted by the adoptee, contacted through an intermediary, or to not be contacted at all. The form would be sent to the adult adoptee upon issuance of a noncertified copy of an original birth certificate.

Persons planning to attend the hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form by Monday, January 27. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation of the hearing.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Questions about the hearing may be directed to Michelle Newman at 518-455-4371 or newmanm@assembly.state.ny.us.

Hon. Richard N. Gottfried
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Health

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Persons planning to attend the public hearing on Legislation to Allow Adoptees to Access their Original Birth Certificate are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, January 27, by email or fax it to: