http://www.ilopen.org
BASTARD NATION: THE ADOPTEE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
www.bastard.org
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___________________________________________________________________
PRESS RELEASE
March 22, 2010
For Immediate Release
CONTACT INFORMATION
Anita Walker Field, 1-847-677-0594
Marley Greiner, 1-614-571-2999
Mary Lynn Fuller, 1-217-722-4814
On March 19, 2010, The Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill that purports to give all adopted adults access to their original birth certificates. On March 23, 2010, HB 5428 GOES TO THE SENATE, awaiting committee assignment.
1. Under HB 5428, birth mothers will be allowed to file affidavits of denial – meaning that a birth mother can veto an adoptee’s right to access his or her original birth certificate.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STEP TO TAKE. IT CREATES AND CODIFIES A NEW RIGHT THAT HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN IN OUR ADOPTION ACT.
2. Allows the state to delete a variety of identifying information from official documents, depending upon a birth mother’s response.
We believe:
HB 5428 needs to be amended in the Senate so that it would restore to ALL adoptees access to their original birth certificates, without any restrictions, such as prior parental approval. If that cannot happen, then HB 5428 must be pulled or left to die in committee.
Text of Bill: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600HB5428lv&SessionID=76&GA=96&DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=5428&print=true
NOTE FROM BASTARDETTE: This is the same old same old Sneaky Sara Feigenholtz trick from last session and how many sessions before that. This crisis developed over the weekend and BN and Illinois Open have been working on it. The bill is worse than you can imagine. I’ve been in transit all day and got in from Sacramento an hour ago. I’m working on a blog, but it won’t go out until tomorrow. Stay tuned…and Sara, if you’re reading this, know you have no friends in AdoptionLand, at least those who count.
If you tweet about this bill use: #IILHB5428 We can keep track of whose writing.
Illinois State Senators’ contact information can be found here.
The trial lawyers would not support legislation detrimental to birth mothers. You are a moron!
Who are you calling a moron and what are you talking about?
There are so many things that are wrong with this IL bill that it is scary. There are some horrible precedents being set here, and I am surprised that they are even being considered. I am personally affected by this one and the one in MO so I am very interested in the outcomes for mothers as well as adoptees on these.
Thanks, BD, for being so on top of things.