Bill to Help Adoptees Find Parents Heard

Intro:	Lawmakers heard whether a mother who gave up her children should be allowed to be contacted by them.
RunTime:	0:49
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The House Children and Families Committee heard conflicting sides about a bill that would expand the right of adoptees to access their original birth certificate and adoption records.

Annette Driver, a mother who put up her child for adoption, argued those papers should be made available so adopted adults can connect with their birth parents.

Actuality:	DRIVER.WAV
Run Time:	00:15
Description: There's actually people here trying to tell you to keep a birth child away from their natural connection and it's not as bad as it seems. Most of these women do at least want to know that their child is OK.

Others argued that the confidentiality of the biological parent decision would be at risk.

The committee did approve a less expansive bill that would allow access only after the original parent had died.

From the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	Adoptees' limited knowledge of their birth parents was challenged in committee Tuesday.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The House Children and Families Committee took up bills that would ease restrictions on adult adoptees getting their adoption documents.

Laura Long, an intermediary in adoption reconnections, said the bill before the committee would not do enough to help adoptees:

Actuality:	LONG.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: They'll only give you verbal information. They don't release anything in writing anymore. They'll give you the redacted social history, but once the information is released, they don't send out a new copy without the white-out.

The committee took no action on that bill that would give adult adoptees access to their records. But it did approve a more limited measure that would provide access to the records after the death of the natural parent.

From the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	Reconnection between biological parents and adopted children would be made easier if a committee bill passes.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The House Children and Families Committee was urged to expand access by adult adoptees to their adoption records.

But Anne Silea, with Lutheran Family and Children's services, said the nature of reconnection after adoption is complicated.

Actuality:	SILEA.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: A lot of the women that we talk to now, when we're doing searches, are really taken-aback and are really upset about the fact that this might not be confidential anymore.

Others argued that adoptees need to know about medical history, among other sentimental requests.

The bill heard by the committee would give adoptees access to their records once they became adults.

The committee approved a more limited bill that would provide access after the death of the biological parents.

From the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.