New York Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin (D-24th A.D.) is sponsoring legislation concerning his “Bill of Adoptee Rights” (A.2003) to open adoption records in New York State. His bill cleared the Assembly health committee in April 2011 and Weprin expects a full Assembly vote in June 2011. This movement to change NYS Adoption Law has been coined the “Unsealed Initiative.” This legislative reform organization is working directly with legislators and lobbying for the passage of the “Bill of Adoptee Rights.”
“The passage of the ‘Bill of Adoptee Rights’ will provide adult adoptees with access to information that a non-adopted person has a legal right to obtain,” said Assemblyman Weprin. In New York State, an adult adoptee cannot access his or her original birth certificate. This bill will allow adult adoptees to request and receive a non-certified copy of an original birth certificate and/or a medical history form, if available.
For more information, you may visit the Unsealed Initiative’s website