Relating to access to a copy of an original birth certificate by an adult adoptee or an entitled person, providing for fees, and including effective date provisions

At the time of such issuance, the state registrar must also provide to the applicant any contact preference form or medical history 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 or entitled 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.” The medical history form, developed by the state registrar, allows a biological parent to provide the medical history of the biological parent and any blood relatives. The options available to a biological parent on which the biological parent may choose only one are: (1) “I am not aware of any medical history of any significance”; (2) “I prefer not to provide any medical information at this time”; (3) “I wish to provide the following medical information included on the attached form”. The contact preference form and medical history form are to be provided to an individual who is in the process of terminating parental rights and are to be attached to a release of custody and the termination of parental rights order, which in turn are attached to the adoption petition and the adoption decree. A certified copy of the adoption decree, including any copy of the contact preference form and medical history form, are 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 and medical history 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 and medical history 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 provides for the establishment of a public awareness and notification period by the department of public health upon the effective date of the Act; provides that beginning August 1, 2019, an adult adopted person or an entitled person may submit an application for a noncertified copy of an adult adopted person’s certificate of birth if the adult adopted person, who is the subject of the application, was born before January 1, 1970; and provides that beginning July 1, 2020, an adult adopted person or an entitled person may apply for a noncertified copy of an adult adopted person’s certificate of birth, notwithstanding the date of birth of the adult adopted person who is the subject of the application. 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 consistent with the bill.