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INTERIM STUDY REPORT Human Services Committee Pam Peterson, Chairperson Oklahoma House of Representatives Interim Study 11-065, Rep. Purcy Walker October 20, 2011 Allowing adults who were adopted as children to have access to original birth certificates and medical records of biological parents. Mr. Casey Paxton on behalf of Mrs. Karla Paxton an adult adoptee o Adult adoptees have a right to know who they are and what their biological family’s medical history is, as do the adoptee’s children and grandchildren. o Adoptees are the only people who do not have the right to their original birth certificate. Ms. Mary Payne, adoptee o Closed birth records go back to the Illinois legislature in 1915 when birth parents were prohibited from listed on the birth certificate of a child to be adopted. o Discussed the history of placing adoptive parent’s names on the birth certificate and sealing the original records. o Currently, an adoptee can petition the court to open the birth records for good cause shown, but judges rarely find on behalf of the petitioner. Ms. Samantha Franklin, adoptee o Was adopted in Tulsa in 1960’s. o The mutual consent registry created by the Oklahoma Legislature in the late 1990’s was believed to have solved the problem created by sealed birth records, but the birth mothers don’t always have accurate information. o The New Hampshire Legislature enacted legislation providing for unconditional access to original birth certificates. o The law allows for a contact preference form to be completed by the birth mom indicating whether she is open to contact or not, but it does not limit access to the birth certificate. o In the seven states that allow access to the birth certificates, abortion rates have gone down 12-15% and adoption rates are going up. Ms. Pat Marler, adoptee o Adult adoptees are deprived of their identity. o Unconditionally opening birth certificates to adult adoptees is a civil right. o When the state withholds the birth certificate it is treating the adoptee like a perpetual child. o There is no evidence that opening up birth certificates will increase abortion rates or decrease adoption rates. Ms. Rhonda Noonan, mental health therapist and adoptee o Had to play games with the system in order to gain access to her original birth certificate. o The birth certificate is rightly theirs; it was stolen from them by an archaic and inhuman system. o Composite of my adopted family and my biological family.
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Title | 11-065 report ocr 1 |
Full text | INTERIM STUDY REPORT Human Services Committee Pam Peterson, Chairperson Oklahoma House of Representatives Interim Study 11-065, Rep. Purcy Walker October 20, 2011 Allowing adults who were adopted as children to have access to original birth certificates and medical records of biological parents. Mr. Casey Paxton on behalf of Mrs. Karla Paxton an adult adoptee o Adult adoptees have a right to know who they are and what their biological family’s medical history is, as do the adoptee’s children and grandchildren. o Adoptees are the only people who do not have the right to their original birth certificate. Ms. Mary Payne, adoptee o Closed birth records go back to the Illinois legislature in 1915 when birth parents were prohibited from listed on the birth certificate of a child to be adopted. o Discussed the history of placing adoptive parent’s names on the birth certificate and sealing the original records. o Currently, an adoptee can petition the court to open the birth records for good cause shown, but judges rarely find on behalf of the petitioner. Ms. Samantha Franklin, adoptee o Was adopted in Tulsa in 1960’s. o The mutual consent registry created by the Oklahoma Legislature in the late 1990’s was believed to have solved the problem created by sealed birth records, but the birth mothers don’t always have accurate information. o The New Hampshire Legislature enacted legislation providing for unconditional access to original birth certificates. o The law allows for a contact preference form to be completed by the birth mom indicating whether she is open to contact or not, but it does not limit access to the birth certificate. o In the seven states that allow access to the birth certificates, abortion rates have gone down 12-15% and adoption rates are going up. Ms. Pat Marler, adoptee o Adult adoptees are deprived of their identity. o Unconditionally opening birth certificates to adult adoptees is a civil right. o When the state withholds the birth certificate it is treating the adoptee like a perpetual child. o There is no evidence that opening up birth certificates will increase abortion rates or decrease adoption rates. Ms. Rhonda Noonan, mental health therapist and adoptee o Had to play games with the system in order to gain access to her original birth certificate. o The birth certificate is rightly theirs; it was stolen from them by an archaic and inhuman system. o Composite of my adopted family and my biological family. |
Date created | 2012-03-14 |
Date modified | 2012-03-14 |