SCS/SB 594 - This act modifies provisions regarding birth certificates and adoption records.
The State Registrar shall develop and, upon a birth parent's request, provide both a contact preference and a medical history form to the birth parent. The contact preference form allows a birth parent to list his or her preference for contact by the adoptee. If a contact preference form is filed with the registrar, a medical history form shall also be so filed. Upon receipt of the forms, the State Registrar shall attach such forms to the original birth certificate of the adopted person.
This act allows an adopted person, the adopted person's attorney, or the adopted person's descendants, if the adopted person is deceased, to obtain a copy of the adopted person's original birth certificate from the State Registrar upon written application and proof of identification. The adopted person shall be 18 years of age or older and born in Missouri. The adopted person shall also agree in writing to abide by the birth parent's contact preference, if such preference is included with the adopted person's original birth certificate. The State Registrar shall also provide a medical history form, if such form was completed by the birth parent.
The provisions of the act shall not apply to adoptions instituted or completed prior to August 28, 2010, except that a copy of the medical history form, which has had all identifying information redacted, shall be issued to such adopted person. For adoptions completed prior to August 28, 2010, the State Registrar shall release the original birth certificate only if the birth mother is deceased. If the birth mother is not deceased, the State Registrar shall, within three months of application by the adopted person, make reasonable efforts to contact the birth mother via telephone or U.S. mail, personally and confidentially, to obtain the birth mother's written consent or denial to release the original birth certificate. If the birth mother could not be contacted, the adopted person may re-apply for a copy of the original birth certificate within one year from the end of the three-month period during which the attempted contact with the birth mother was previously made.
These provisions are similar to SCS/SB 53 (2009), and similar to SCS/SB 1132 (2008) and SB 322 (2003).
This act also corrects a technical error in an adoption statute that relates to the process for recognition of foreign adoption orders. The statute currently has a wrong reference to another statute. This provisions is identical to SB 684 (2010). ADRIANE CROUSE