HB 1998 -- Adoption Records

Sponsor:  Johnson

This bill changes the laws regarding adoption records.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Allows the State Registrar to open an adoption file only
when a court order is received or if an adopted person 18 years
of age or older who was born in Missouri files an application
that provides proof of identification and makes a written
agreement to abide by the contact preferences of the birth
parents;

(2)  Requires the State Registrar to issue the adopted person an
uncertified copy of his or her unaltered original birth
certificate and the birth parent's medical history form, if
applicable, after a fee is paid and the waiting period has
expired;

(3)  Requires the State Registrar to develop a form for a birth
parent to complete stating his or her preference regarding
contact with the adopted child.  The birth parent can choose on
the form:

(a)  To be contacted and include the medical history form with
the birth certificate to be filed with the State Registrar; or

(b)  To be contacted only through an intermediary and include the
medical history form with the birth certificate to be filed with
the State Registrar; or

(c)  Not to be contacted and include the medical history form
with the birth certificate to be filed with the State Registrar;

(4)  Requires the State Registrar to develop a form for a birth
parent to complete describing his or her medical history.  If the
birth parent has completed a contact preference form, the birth
parent must fill out the medical history form.  If the birth
parent has not completed a contact preference form, it will be at
the birth parent's discretion to complete the medical history
form; and

(5)  Requires the State Registrar to establish rules regarding
the development of the necessary forms and the procedures needed
to grant the adopted person access to his or her adoption file.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated February 13, 2008 at 11:58 am