SB 386

Introduction

This bill: 1) permits a person 18 years of age or over whose birth parent's

parental rights have been terminated in this state to file an affidavit with the

Department of Children and Families (DCF) authorizing DCF to provide the person's

birth parent with identifying information about the person; and 2) makes certain

changes with regard to access to medical and genetic information about such a birth

parent.

Access to identifying information

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 requested information 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 requires DCF to disclose the identity of a birth parent who is known

to be deceased, including the requester's original birth certificate if both parents are

deceased or if one parent is deceased and the other has an affidavit on file authorizing

the release of the original birth certificate.

Current law does not include a comparable procedure under which a birth

parent, or a person who may be a biological parent and whose parental rights to a

person have been terminated (possible parent), may obtain identifying information

about a person who was, or may have been, his or her child. This bill establishes such

a procedure.

Specifically, the bill: 1) permits any person 18 years of age or over whose birth

parent's or possible parent's parental rights have been terminated in this state to file

with DCF an affidavit authorizing DCF to provide the birth parent or possible parent

with any available information about the identity and location of the person; 2)

permits any birth parent or possible parent whose parental rights have been

terminated in this state to request DCF to provide the birth parent or possible parent

with any available information about the identity and location of any person 18 years

of age or over who was, or may have been, his or her child; and 3) requires DCF to