HCS/SS/SCS/SB 351 - This act modifies provisions regarding adoption records. Current law allows for nonidentifying information, if known, concerning undisclosed biological parents or siblings to be furnished by the child placing agency or the juvenile court to the adoptive parents, legal guardians or adopted adult upon request. This act allows such nonidentifying information to also be furnished to the adopted adult's lineal descendants if the adopted adult is deceased. SECTION 453.121.3
This act modifies the provisions regarding adopted adults obtaining identifying information of the undisclosed biological parents by making a request to the circuit court having original jurisdiction. This act provides that such identifying information shall also be furnished to the adopted adult's lineal descendants if the adopted adult is deceased. SECTION 453.121.4
Current law allows the adopted adult to make a request and prescribes a procedure for obtaining consent from both the adoptive and biological parents if prior consent has not been given either through the adoption information registry or through contact by the child-placing agency or juvenile court personnel. This act modifies current law by requiring just the biological parents to be notified about the request for identifying information. SECTION 453.121.4 AND 5
If a biological parent authorizes the release of information or if a biological parent is found to be deceased, the court shall disclose the identifying information as to that biological parent to the adopted adult so long as the other biological parent either:
-Is unknown
-Is known but cannot be found and notified
-Is deceased or
-Has filed with the court an affidavit authorizing the release of information. SECTION 453.121.7
This act provides that adopted adults may obtain identifying information on adult siblings with the sibling's consent without the court having to find that such information is necessary for health-related purposes. SECTION 453.121.8
Provisions of this act are similar to HB 427 (2011).
ADRIANE CROUSE