2007 House Bill 4896 (Establish adoptee birth parent identification process )

[Comments on this legislation] [Post new comment] [Text and Analysis] [Add to Watch List]
[Previous] [Next]

Introduced by Rep. Lisa Wojno (D) on June 12, 2007, to allow a person who was adopted to get a copy of his or her original birth certificate upon reaching age 21, and allow the birth parent of an adopted child to insert a contact preference form in the file with the sealed birth record, indicating a desire to be contacted or not should the adopted child obtain the birth records.
- Referred to the House Family and Childrens Services Committee on June 12, 2007.
  - Reported in the House on March 5, 2008, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
- Substitute offered by Rep. Lisa Wojno (D) on June 27, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on June 27, 2008.
Passed in the House (99 to 8) on June 27, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on July 17, 2008.
- Referred to the Senate Families and Human Services Committee on July 17, 2008.

Most Recent Comments

1) Re: Basic Human Rights Huh? [by khmior on May 11, 2009]

I'm thrilled at the prospect of being able to obtain a copy of my original birth certificate, trully a dream come. I appreciate all the comments and frustrations of the other adoptees. I too have looked in to the mirror and wished I knew someone who looked like me and was not pleasanty surprised to find a registration card instead of a birth certificate. While it's too late to meet my birth parents as I'm nearly 60, I would like to have their names. Hurray for the forward looking legislators! Kathleen, born Suzanne Marie 4/23/50 Detroit.

Line

2) Another side [by Anonymous Citizen on October 22, 2008]
As the wife of an adoptee, I can assure you there's more to wanting an original birth certificate than just wanting to meet birth parents.

My husband is adopted. We were fortunate to conceive our first child quickly. However we went through 18 months of trying to conceive our second child. When we were finally referred to a specialist, going through a medical history we had no idea about was very difficult for my husband. He shut down for days afterward. He felt that he wasn't contributing enough to the cause of getting pregnant. When I finally did become pregnant, we were referred for high-risk as I'm 35. That meant genetic counseling. Again, my husband shut down because he had no answers to give.

We are so grateful for Rep. Wojno for sponsoring this legislation and hope the Senate approves it quickly.

It is not only for our benefit that we seek answers, but for our children. Our first child is developmentally delayed and while he has had some genetic testing, it only provides a fraction of the puzzle.

All children deserve to know their history, whether it's their ethnic background or what's in their genetic make-up.

Can you imagine sitting in a doctor's office and answering "I don't know" to a list of 50+ questions just because you're adopted and have no access to your file?

I don't have to imagine it, I've been watching it happen for five years and it's just as disheartening to watch as it is to go through it.
Reply

Line

3) Answers [by Anonymous Citizen on August 22, 2008]
"Can you imagine if you did not know who gave birth to you, did not know your Mom or Dad ??"

Yes

"I am saying we have the right to see out parents."

No, You Don't

"Remember, the adopted child had no say what-so-ever when this was done to them -- so now at least giving the names of their birth parents through an Original Birth Cert. is the LEAST that can be done. Personally I think much more should be done"

If you pull this off the number of abortions will go up and adoptions will go down. The only thing I would want to say to my birth parents is thank you for not killing me.

Reply

Line

View Full Conversation