Relating to access to a copy of an original birth certificate by an adult adoptee, and providing for fees

Upon receipt of the written application and proof of identification and payment of a fee, the state registrar of vital statistics shall issue a noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth to the applicant. At the time of such issuance, the state registrar must also provide to the applicant any contact preference form completed and submitted to the state registrar. The contact preference form, developed by the state registrar, is a form to be completed and submitted by the biological parent stating a preference regarding contact by an adult adopted person following application for and issuance of the noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth. The preferences available to the biological parent include a choice of one of the following: (1) “I would like to be contacted. I have completed this contact preference form and am filing the form with the state registrar.” (2) “I would prefer to be contacted only through an intermediary. I would like the following named individual or entity to act as an intermediary. I have completed this contact preference form and am filing the form with the state registrar.24A. I have completed this contact preference form and am filing the form with the state registrar.” (4) “I request that all personally identifiable information related to me be redacted from the original birth certificate. I have completed this contact preference form and am filing the form with the state registrar.” The contact preference form is to be provided to an individual who is in the process of terminating parental rights and is to be attached to a release of custody and the termination of parental rights order, which in turn is attached to the adoption petition and the adoption decree. A certified copy of the adoption decree, including any copy of the contact preference form, is to be sent to the state registrar for the purpose of, in addition to the preparation of a new birth certificate, attaching the contact preference form to the original certificate of birth. The bill directs the state registrar to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A to administer the provisions of the bill including rules relating to fees for issuance of the noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth, the application form and proof of identification requirements relative to application for a noncertified copy of an original certificate of birth, and the contact preference form.46 including provisions requiring that fees collected are to be deposited in the general fund of the state and the vital records fund in accordance with an apportionment established by rule. The bill includes conforming changes in the Code. The bill provides an exception to the provisions and penalties relating to the opening of papers and records pertaining to a termination of parental rights or an adoption, to allow for access to the original certificate of birth by an adult adopted person consistent with the bill. Notwithstanding the provisions of the bill relating to the preference form and the use of the preference form, the bill provides that, relative to an adult person who was adopted prior to July 1, 2019, when the bill takes effect, a biological parent may submit a contact preference form to the state registrar of vital statistics on or before June 30, 2021. On or after July 1, 2021, the adult adopted person may apply for a noncertified copy of the person’s original certificate of birth and any contact preference form in accordance with the bill. If a contact preference form is submitted by a biological parent on or before June 30, 2021, the adult adopted person may obtain a noncertified copy of the person’s original certificate of birth and any contact preference form in accordance with the bill.16A, or as provided by administrative rule for statistical or administrative purposes.