AB 650

Introduction

This bill 1) permits a birth parent whose parental rights have been terminated

in this state to file with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) a form

designating the birth parent's preference with regard to being contacted by a person

who was his or her child or who is an offspring of that person (contact preference

form); 2) permits a person 18 years of age or over whose birth parent's parental rights

have been terminated in this state or an offspring of that person, if 18 years of age

or over, to file a contact authorization form with DCF authorizing DCF to provide the

person's birth parent with identifying information about the person or offspring; 3)

makes certain changes with regard to access to medical and genetic information

about such a birth parent; and 4) makes certain changes with regard to access by an

adult adoptee or an adult who was born to a surrogate mother to his or her original

birth certificate.

Contact preference forms

Under current law, DCF administers an adoption search program under which

a person 18 years of age or over whose birth parent's parental rights have been

terminated in this state may request DCF to provide the person with any information

that is available to DCF regarding the identity and location of the person's birth

parents. DCF may provide the identity and location of a birth parent only if DCF has

on file an unrevoked affidavit from each known birth parent authorizing DCF to

disclose that information. If DCF does not have on file an unrevoked affidavit from

each known birth parent, DCF must search for each birth parent who has not filed

an affidavit and, upon locating a birth parent, must give the birth parent an

opportunity to file an affidavit. If a known birth parent cannot be located, DCF may

disclose the identity and location of that birth parent if the other birth parent has

filed an unrevoked affidavit. If a birth parent who has not filed an affidavit is known

to be deceased, DCF may not provide the identity of that birth parent but may

provide the identity and location of the other birth parent if the other birth parent

has filed an unrevoked affidavit and if one year has elapsed since the death of the

deceased birth parent.

This bill replaces the affidavit authorizing DCF to disclose the identity and

location of a birth parent with a contact preference form prescribed by DCF that

allows a birth parent to designate one of the following preferences with regard to

whether the birth parent wishes to be contacted: 1) "I would like to be contacted by

my child or by an offspring of my child."; 2) "I would prefer to be contacted only

through an intermediary."; or 3) "I would prefer not to be contacted by my child or by

an offspring of my child at this time." DCF may then provide the identity and location

of a birth parent to a person 18 years of age or over who was a child of the birth parent

or is an offspring of that person if DCF has on file a contact preference form from the

birth parent indicating that the parent wishes to be contacted or that one birth