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Second Substitute H.B. 148

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Fri, Mar 8, 2013 at 8:59 AM by jeyring. -->

Representative Jim Nielson proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
ADOPTION RECORDS ACCESS AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Jim Nielson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies Title 78B, Chapter 6, Particular Proceedings, by amending the
             10      procedures for disclosing information in an adoption record and creating a restricted
             11      account.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    states that for an adoption finalized before March 22, 1941, the original birth
             16      certificate shall be made available upon request;
             17          .    permits the release of identifying information about a birth mother, with her
             18      permission, under certain circumstances;
             19          .    authorizes the Office of Vital Records and Statistics to collect a fee from an adult
             20      adoptee accessing the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry, and directs the
             21      office to deposit money in a designated restricted account;
             22          .    directs the Office of Vital Records and Statistics to, as funding allows:
             23              .    implement broad search terms and methods when attempting to find a match in
             24      the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry; and
             25              .    advertise the services offered by the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption


             26      registry;
             27          .    authorizes the Office of Vital Records and Statistics to partner with a private or
             28      nonprofit organization to seek private funding for advertising and the operation of
             29      the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry;
             30          .    requires an annual report on the effectiveness of the mutual-consent, voluntary
             31      adoption registry to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee; and
             32          .    makes technical changes.
             33      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             34          This bill appropriates:
             35          .    to the General Fund Restricted - Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry
             36      Restricted Account as an ongoing appropriation:
             37              .    from the General fund, $50,000;
             38          .    to the Department of Health - Office of Vital Statistics:
             39              .    from the Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry Restricted Account,
             40      $50,000, subject to intent language that the appropriation shall be used to fund
             41      programs and services described in Section 78B-6-144.
             42      Other Special Clauses:
             43          None
             44      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             45      AMENDS:
             46          78B-6-141, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 340
             47          78B-6-144, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 340
             48      ENACTS:
             49          78B-6-144.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             50     
             51      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             52          Section 1. Section 78B-6-141 is amended to read:
             53           78B-6-141. Petition, report, and documents sealed -- Exceptions.
             54          (1) As used in this section:
             55          (a) "Adult adoptee" means a person at least 18 years old who was adopted as a child.
             56          (b) "Identifying information" means information that may lead to the positive


             57      identification of a birth parent, adoptee, or other biological relative, including a name, address,
             58      or place of employment.
             59          [(1) A] (2) For an adoption that is finalized before January 1, 2014, a petition for
             60      adoption, the written report described in Section 78B-6-135 , and any other documents filed in
             61      connection with the petition are sealed.
             62          (3) For an adoption finalized before March 22, 1941, the original birth certificate shall
             63      be made available for inspection pursuant to Subsection 26-2-22 (2).
             64          (4) For an adoption that is finalized on or after January 1, 2014, a petition for adoption,
             65      the written report described in Section 78B-6-135 , and any other documents filed in connection
             66      with the petition:
             67          (a) the original documents are sealed; and
             68          (b) except as provided in Subsection (5), upon written request in the form established
             69      by the office, the office shall make copies of the original documents in the possession of the
             70      office available for inspection to:
             71          (i) an adoptive parent who was a party to the adoption; or
             72          (ii) an adult adoptee.
             73          (5) (a) For an adoption that is finalized on or after January 1, 2014, a birth mother may
             74      elect, in writing at the time of finalization, to refuse to permit identifying information about the
             75      birth mother to be made available by the office for inspection by any individual.
             76          (b) If a birth mother elects under Subsection (5)(a) to refuse to permit identifying
             77      information about the birth mother to be made available for inspection, the office shall redact
             78      all identifying information about the birth mother in the documents described Subsection
             79      (4)(b).
             80          (c) A birth mother may, at any time:
             81          (i) change the election described in Subsection (5)(a); or
             82          (ii) elect to make other information, including an updated medical history, available for
             83      inspection by a party to the adoption or adult adoptee, if she makes the election in writing.
             84          [(2)] (6) The documents described in Subsection [(1)] (2) may only be open to
             85      inspection as follows:
             86          (a) in accordance with Subsection [(3)] (7)(a), by a party to the adoption proceeding:
             87          (i) while the proceeding is pending; or


             88          (ii) within six months after the day on which the adoption decree is entered;
             89          (b) subject to Subsection [(3)] (7)(b), a court enters an order permitting access to the
             90      documents by a person who has appealed the denial of that person's motion to intervene;
             91          (c) upon order of the court expressly permitting inspection or copying, after good cause
             92      has been shown;
             93          (d) as provided under Section 78B-6-144 ;
             94          (e) those records shall become public on the one hundredth anniversary of the date the
             95      final decree of adoption was entered; or
             96          (f) if the adoptee is an adult at the time the final decree of adoption is entered, the
             97      documents described in this section are open to inspection and copying without a court order
             98      by the adoptee or a parent who adopted the adoptee, unless the final decree of adoption is
             99      entered by the juvenile court under Subsection 78B-6-115 (3)(b).
             100          [(3)] (7) (a) A person who files a motion to intervene in an adoption proceeding:
             101          (i) is not a party to the adoption proceeding, unless the motion to intervene is granted;
             102      and
             103          (ii) may not be granted access to the documents described in Subsection [(1)] (2),
             104      unless the motion to intervene is granted.
             105          (b) An order described in Subsection [(2)] (6)(b) shall:
             106          (i) prohibit the person described in Subsection [(2)] (6)(b) from inspecting a document
             107      described in Subsection [(1)] (2) that contains identifying information of the adoptive or
             108      prospective adoptive parent; and
             109          (ii) permit the person described in Subsection [(3)] (7)(b)(i) to review a copy of a
             110      document described in Subsection [(3)] (7)(b)(i) after the identifying information described in
             111      Subsection [(3)] (7)(b)(i) is redacted from the document.
             112          (8) A birth mother who opts out of disclosure of information under Subsection (5), may
             113      participate in the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry described in Section 78B-6-144 .
             114          (9) The office may charge a fee to an individual who requests information under this
             115      section or changes an election under Subsection (5)(c), limited to:
             116          (a) the cost of providing the service; and
             117          (b) an additional fee, to be set by the office by rule, and to be deposited in the
             118      Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry Restricted Account to fund the activities


             119      described in Subsection 78B-6-144 (7).
             120              Section 2. Section 78B-6-144 is amended to read:
             121           78B-6-144. Mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry -- Procedures -- Fees.
             122          (1) As used in this section, "adult adoptee" is as defined in Section 78B-6-141 .
             123          [(1)] (2) The office shall establish a mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry.
             124          (a) [Adult adoptees] An adult adoptee and a birth [parents] parent of an adult
             125      [adoptees] adoptee, upon presentation of positive identification, may request identifying
             126      information from the office, in the form established by the office. A court of competent
             127      jurisdiction or a child-placing agency may accept that request from the adult adoptee or birth
             128      parent, in the form provided by the office, and transfer that request to the office. The adult
             129      adoptee or birth parent is responsible for notifying the office of any change in information
             130      contained in the request.
             131          (b) The office may only release identifying information to an adult adoptee or birth
             132      parent:
             133          (i) when it receives requests from both the adoptee and the adoptee's birth parent[.]; or
             134          (ii) pursuant to Subsections 78B-6-141 (3) through (7).
             135          (c) After matching the request of an adult adoptee with that of at least one of the
             136      adoptee's birth parents, the office shall notify both the adoptee and the birth parent that the
             137      requests have been matched, and disclose the identifying information to those parties.
             138      However, if that adult adoptee has a sibling of the same birth parent who is under the age of 18
             139      years, and who was raised in the same family setting as the adult adoptee, the office shall not
             140      disclose the requested identifying information to that adult adoptee or the adoptee's birth
             141      parent.
             142          [(2)] (3) (a) Adult adoptees and adult siblings of adult adoptees, upon presentation of
             143      positive identification, may request identifying information from the office, in the form
             144      established by the office. A court of competent jurisdiction or a child-placing agency may
             145      accept that request from the adult adoptee or adult sibling, in the form provided by the office,
             146      and transfer that request to the office. The adult adoptee or adult sibling is responsible for
             147      notifying the office of any change in information contained in the request.
             148          (b) The office may only release identifying information to an adult adoptee or adult
             149      sibling when it receives requests from both the adoptee and the adoptee's adult sibling.


             150          (c) After matching the request of an adult adoptee with that of the adoptee's adult
             151      sibling, if the office [has been provided with] determined it has sufficient information to make
             152      that match, the office shall notify both the adoptee and the adult sibling that the requests have
             153      been matched, and disclose the identifying information to those parties.
             154          (d) After receiving a request for information from an adult adoptee under this section,
             155      the office shall:
             156          (i) search the office's vital records for the adult adoptee's birth parent; and
             157          (ii) if the search described in Subsection (3)(d)(i) reveals that adult adoptee's birth
             158      parent is dead, inform the adult adoptee that the birth parent is dead and disclose the identity of
             159      the birth parent.
             160          (e) The office shall attempt to notify an individual who requests information under this
             161      section:
             162          (i) of the results of the initial search for a match; and
             163          (ii) if the initial search does not produce a match, that the office will keep the request
             164      on file and the office shall attempt to notify the individual in the event of a match.
             165          [(3)] (4) Information registered with the [bureau] office under this section is available
             166      only to a registered adult adoptee and the adoptee's registered birth parent or registered adult
             167      sibling, under the terms of this section.
             168          [(4)] (5) Information regarding a birth parent who has not registered a request with the
             169      [bureau] office may not be disclosed, except as provided in Section 78B-6-141 .
             170          [(5)] (6) The [bureau may] office shall:
             171          (a) charge an adult adoptee:
             172          (i) a fee for the cost of providing services [provided] under this section[, limited to the
             173      cost of providing those services.]; and
             174          (ii) an additional fee, to be set by the office by rule.
             175          (b) deposit any funds received under Subsection (6)(a)(ii) in the Mutual-Consent,
             176      Voluntary Adoption Registry Restricted Account created under Section 78B-6-144.5 .
             177          (7) The office shall, as funding in the Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry
             178      Donation Fund allow:
             179          (a) automate the processes to operate the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry;
             180          (b) maximize potential matches by utilizing broad search terms and methods; and


             181          (c) advertise the services provided by the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry,
             182      including providing registration forms to local motor vehicle division offices for distribution
             183      with vehicle registration information.
             184          (8) The office may:
             185          (a) partner with a private or nonprofit organization to seek funding for activities
             186      authorized under this section, which shall be deposited in the Mutual-Consent, Voluntary
             187      Adoption Registry Donation Fund created under Section 78B-6-144.5 ; and
             188          (b) contract with a private or nonprofit organization to supplement the advertising
             189      described in Subsection (7)(b).
             190          (9) The office shall work with the H. [ Department of Transportation ] Tax
             190a      Commission .H to develop language
             191      advertising the services provided by the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry to be
             192      included on vehicle registration forms.
             193          (10) The office shall make an annual report on the effectiveness of the mutual-consent,
             194      voluntary adoption registry to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee.
             195          (11) Nothing in this section shall limit the disclosure of information as described in
             196      Section 78B-6-141 .
             197          Section 3. Section 78B-6-144.5 is enacted to read:
             198          78B-6-144.5. Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry Restricted Account.
             199          (1) (a) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the
             200      "Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry Restricted Account."
             201          (b) The Mutual-Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry Restricted Account consists of
             202      money that the Legislature appropriates into the account, and fees the Office of Vital Records
             203      and Statistics deposits into the account under Sections 78B-6-141 and 78B-6-144 .
             204          (2) The Legislature shall appropriate funds from the account described in Subsection
             205      (1) to fund the services provided by the Office of Vital Records and Statistics in maintaining
             206      and operating the mutual-consent adoption registry, and advertising the service provided by the
             207      registry.
             208          (3) (a) There is created a restricted special revenue fund known as the
             209      "Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry Donation Fund."
             210          (b) The fund described in Subsection (3)(a) shall be funded by donations and grants
             211      from public or private entities, and interest on those donations and grants.


             212          (4) The office may spend money in the Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry
             213      Donation Fund to fund activities described in Section 78B-6-144 .
             214          (5) The office may not spend money in the Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption
             215      Registry Donation Fund except as described in Subsection (4).
             216          Section 4. Appropriation.
             217          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
             218      the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2014, the following sums of money
             219      are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
             220      previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
             221      addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2014.
             222          To General Fund Restricted - Mutual-Consent Voluntary Adoption
             223          Registry Restricted Account
             224              From General Fund
$50,000
             225              Schedule of Programs:
             226                  Mutual-Consent, Voluntary Adoption Registry
             227                  Restricted Account                    $50,000
             228          To Department of Health, Executive Director's Operations
             229              From General Fund Restricted - Mutual-Consent, Voluntary
             230              Adoption Registry Restricted Account
$50,000
             231              Schedule of Programs:
             232                  Office of Health Data                    $50,000
             233          The Legislature intends that appropriations provided under this section be used by the
             234      Office of Vital Statistics to fund programs and services described in 78B-6-144 .
             235          Under Section 63J-1-603 , the Legislature intends that appropriations provided under
             236      this section not lapse at the close of fiscal year 2014. The use of any nonlapsing funds is
             237      limited to fund programs and services described in Section 78B-6-144 .


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