Oct. 26, 2016
Legislation now moves to governor
HARRISBURG – Adults who were adopted as children in Pennsylvania are just one step away from being able to obtain their original birth information under legislation currently on its way to the governor, said Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), a leading co-sponsor of the measure.
“Adults who were adopted as children have not been able to gain access to their original birth information, making it difficult for them to know their true identity,” Watson said. “The lack of this information also raises practicality issues, as adult adoptees have faced obstacles in applying for passports or completing family medical histories. We realize this is an emotional issue for so many, and that’s why we have included provisions allowing birth parents to keep their identities secret as long as they wish.”
Currently, adoptees may petition the courts for a copy of their original birth records, but those requests may be denied. Birth certificates for adopted children have been sealed in Pennsylvania since 1984.
Under
House Bill 162, which cleared the House last December and the Senate this week, that right would be reinstated so that adult adoptees can apply for and receive a copy of their original birth certificate. Birth parents who choose not to redact their names can submit a contact preference form to indicate whether or not they wish to be contacted.
Watson, who was adopted as a small child and is the mother of an adopted child, helped spearhead the bill through the legislative process as chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee. She has made adoption reforms a priority for the committee and has helped pass several other reforms this session to make the adoption process easier in Pennsylvania.
The legislation was the focus of two hearings in the past two years to ensure that the proposal was fully vetted.
“Getting this bill to the governor has been a long and hard-fought endeavor, with so many people deserving credit for making this a reality,” Watson added. “I’d like to thank the bill sponsor, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, himself an adoptee, along with so many others who shared their stories with us and their reasons for wanting to know more about their identities. Once signed, this bill will open the door for so many who just want to know who they are.”
The governor has 10 days to act on the measure once it reaches his desk.
Representative Kathy Watson
144th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
717.705.2094
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
KathyWatson144.com /
Facebook.com/RepWatson