OHIO ACTION ALLERT

BUCKEYES FOR EQUAL ACCESS:

OPEN RECORDS FOR ALL OHIO ADOPTEES

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY

OHIO ACTION ALERT

BUCKEYES FOR EQUAL ACCESS SAYS:

OHIO ADOPTEES NEED YOUR HELP NOW!

SUB BILL ERASES BIRTH CERTIFICATE ACCESS

BeaOhio: beaohio@gmail.com http://www.myspace.com/beaohio

On April 16, 2008 a substitute bill for HB 7, an adoption/fostercare reform bill, which included original birth certificate access for all post-1963 adopted adults without restriction, was introduced in the Ohio House Health The sub bill, (also called LSC 127 0671-4), deletes all reference to obc access found in the original bill; thus, maintaining the current 3-tiered yes-no-maybe system that divides obc access by date of adoption/date of birth and first parent permission.*

BILL INFORMATION

Original HB 7: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_7 (click on link at left)

Sub HB 7: http://www.adoptionnetwork.org/filegallery.asp?f=270&linkId=1346 (2n square on right—pdf.)

HEARING

A hearing on Sub Bill 7 bill is scheduled for 4:00 PM, Wednesday, April 23 in Room 017 (basement) of the Statehouse Testimony requesting the reinstatement of unrestricted obc access can be given. Bring 20 copies of your testimony for the committee. If you can’t testify, then come to support.

If you plan to testify please call Kara Joseph in Rep. Tom Brinkman’s office at 614-644-6886.

We have been told that another hearing on Sub Bill 7 will probably be held on Wednesday, April 30 so save that date, too. Please check with our MySpace page for updates. http://www.myspace.com/beaohio

FULL ACCESS MUST BE RETURNED!

CONTACT

If you are an Ohio adoptee, birthparent, adoptive parent or currently live in Ohio or have an Ohio connection, please contact the Health Committee today and urge them to:

• Support HB 7 as written. Reject Sub Bill 7 unless the exact unrestricted access language from the original HB 7 is restored.
• Support the addition of a contact preference form, if presented.
• Reject all attempts to restrict obc access to any adopted adult for any reason through disclosure vetoes or other methods.

TALKING POINTS—HB 7 as written

• is inclusive. It acknowledges a legally, morally, and ethically correct one-size-fits all standard of identity and records rights for all adopted persons. It treats the adopted the same as the non-adopted.

• treats all Ohio adoptees equally. It abolishes the discriminatory 3-tiered access system based on date of birth, date of adoption availability, or birth parent permission.

• does not open original birth certificates and other records to the public.

• does not change adoption procedures

• is pro-adoption. It is not controversial. It reflects best practice adoption standards. Unrestricted access to the original birth certificate is a priority of every adoption reform organization in the US. Unrestricted access is supported by the majority adoption professionals.

• is about rights not reunions. It is about the relation of adoptees to the state.

• is non-partisan. In states where access has been restored, Republicans and Democrats sponsored the legislation and voted YES.

If you are a birthparent tell the committee:

• You were never promised anonymity nor did you ask for it.

• You do not expect or need “special rights”

If you are an adoptive parent tell the committee:

• Your son or daughter is not a second class citizen; he or she deserves the same right of identity and public records access as the not-adopted.

• Adoption is a strong institution and can only be strengthened in Ohio by openness and truth.

*Current Ohio law:

• Persons adopted before January 1, 1964: unrestricted access
• Persons adopted January 1, 1964-September 18, 1996: access by court order
• Persons adopted September 19, 1996-present: unrestricted access at age of majority unless a birthparent has filed a disclosure veto with the state; then the adoptee is barred from receiving a copy of their original birth certificate—the public record of their own birth.

PLEASE E-MAIL, WRITE, CALL, or FAX THE MEMBERS OF OHIO HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE IMMEDIATELY. TELL THEM TO SUPPORT HB 7 AS WRITTEN AND THAT ANY RESTRICTION TO ACCESS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO OHIO ADOPTEES. TELL THEM YOUR LIFE AND RIGHTS COUNT.

The most important members to contact, by phone even if you talk to their aides, are Representatives Matt Huffman (R-Lima), Robert Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati), and Speaker of the House Jon Husted.

*Speaker Jon Husted

77 S. High St.

Columbus, OH 43215-6111

Telephone: (614) 466-5316

Fax: (614) 719-3591

Email Address: district37@odr.state.oh.us

HEALTH COMMITTEE:

Chair:
*Lynn Wachtmann (R)
District 75
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-3760
Fax : (614) 719-3975
Email Address: district75@ohr.state.oh.us

Ranking Minority Member:
Brian G. Williams (D)
District 41
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-5085
Fax : (614) 719-6941
Email Address: district41@ohr.state.oh.us

Members:
Barbara Boyd (D)
District 09
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-5079
Fax : (614) 719-0009
Email Address: district09@ohr.state.oh.us

Edna Brown (D)
District 48
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1401
Fax : (614) 719-6948
Email Address: district48@ohr.state.oh.us

Michael DeBose (D)
District 12
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1408
Fax : (614) 719-3912
Email Address: district12@ohr.state.oh.us

Lorraine M. Fende (D)
District 62
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-7251
Fax : (614) 719-3962
Email Address: district62@ohr.state.oh.us

Bruce W. Goodwin (R)
District 74
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-5091
Fax : (614) 719-3974
Email Address: district74@ohr.state.oh.us

Jay Hottinger (R)
District 71
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1482
Fax : (614) 719-3971
Email Address: district71@ohr.state.oh.us

Matt Huffman (R)
District 04
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-9624
Fax : (614) 719-0004
Email Address: district04@ohr.state.oh.us

Shannon Jones (R)
District 67
Assistant Majority Whip
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6027
Fax : (614) 719-3967
Email Address: district67@ohr.state.oh.us

Tom Letson (D)
District 64
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-5358
Fax : (614) 719-3964
Email Address: district64@ohr.state.oh.us

*Robert Mecklenborg (R)
District 30
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-8258, or in district
Fax : (614) 719-3584
Email Address: district30@ohr.state.oh.us

Robert J. Otterman (D)
District 45
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6037
Fax : (614) 719-6945
Email Address: district45@ohr.state.oh.us

W. Scott Oelslager (R)
District 51
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 752-2438
Fax : (614) 719-6951
Email Address: district51@ohr.state.oh.us

Robert F. Hagan (D)
District 60
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-9435
Fax : (614) 719-3960
Email Address: district60@ohr.state.oh.us

James T. Raussen (R)
District 28
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-8120
Fax : (614) 719-3582
Email Address: district28@ohr.state.oh.us

Chris Redfern (D)
District 80
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6011
Fax : (614) 719-6980
Email Address: district80@ohr.state.oh.us

Carol-Ann Schindel (R)
District 63
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6074
Fax : (614) 719-3963
Email Address: district63@ohr.state.oh.us

Fred Strahorn (D)
District 40
Assistant Minority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-2960
Fax : (614) 719-6940
Email Address: district40@ohr.state.oh.us

Joseph W. Uecker (R)
District 66
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-8134
Fax : (614) 719-3966
Email Address: district66@ohr.state.oh.us

Shawn N. Webster (R)
District 53
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-5094
Fax : (614) 719-6953
Email Address: district53@ohr.state.oh.us

Kenny Yuko (D)
District 07
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-8012
Fax : (614) 719-0007
Email Address: district07@ohr.state.oh.us

Cut and Paste NOTE: addys have no names):

district41@ohr.state.oh.us, district09@ohr.state.oh.us
district48@ohr.state.oh.us, district12@ohr.state.oh.us
district62@ohr.state.oh.us, district74@ohr.state.oh.us
district71@ohr.state.oh.us, district04@ohr.state.oh.us
district67@ohr.state.oh.us, district64@ohr.state.oh.us
district30@ohr.state.oh.us, district45@ohr.state.oh.us
district51@ohr.state.oh.us, district60@ohr.state.oh.us
district28@ohr.state.oh.us, district80@ohr.state.oh.us
district63@ohr.state.oh.us, district40@ohr.state.oh.us
district66@ohr.state.oh.us, district53@ohr.state.oh.us
district07@ohr.state.oh.us, district37@odr.state.oh.us,

district75@ohr.state.oh.us

BASTARD NATION ACTION ALERT

BASTARD NATION ACTION ALERT! STOP ILLINOIS HB 4623! FULL ACCESS FOR ALL ADOPTEES!

BASTARD NATION: THE ADOPTEE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
P.O. Box 1469
Edmond, OK

www.bastards.org


PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY
ILLINOIS ACTION ALERT
URGE THE ILLINOIS HOUSE TO VOTE NO ON HB4623

HB 4623, sponsored by Representative Sara Feigenholtz, is a dangerous bill and must be voted down. Sometime during the month of April, the Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on HB4623. We do not know what day the bill will get to the House floor, so we must ACT IMMEDIATELY in order to let our voices be heard. {Please see easy Contact Information below}

IF PASSED INTO LAW, HB 4623 WOULD…
…..give birth parents 6 months after the bill is passed to file “Denial of Information” forms with the Adoption Registry. Any adoptee whose birth parent files a “Denial of Information” form will NOT receive an original birth certificate. This section includes a 6 month advertising campaign to let birthmothers know their choices.

…..define three different classes of adult adoptees, those born before 1946, those born between January 1, 1946 and January 2009, and all prospective adoptions.

…..give all prospective birth parents 21 years in which to file a Denial of Information Form. Current law requires them to file a denial within 6 months.

…..give birth parents 5 options that range from contact to anonymity to choose from.

…..permit redacting ( or whiting-out) an official document.

…..codify "anonymity" for the first time.

…..make all of the birth parent options go through the Illinois Adoption Registry where the concerns are related to searching rather than to civil rights.

…..allow for the possibility of adoptees receiving copies of birth certificates with birth parent names removed as well as the adoptee's name.

…..grant access veto powers to birth parents who relinquished all legal rights to the adoptee as a child.

PLEASE E-MAIL, WRITE, CALL, or FAX THE MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY. TELL THEM THAT HB4623 IS A SERIOUSLY FLAWED BILL WHICH MUST BE VOTED DOWN SO THAT A TRUE ADOPTEE RIGHTS BILL CAN BE WRITTEN AND FILED IN ITS PLACE.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BILL NEEDS 70+ VOTES IN ORDER TO PASS OUT OF THE HOUSE. WE MUST PUT AN END TO IT RIGHT IN THE HOUSE WHERE IT BEGAN!

Background
HB 4623 began back in January as a shell bill purportedly to make changes to the IL CI system. On Monday, March 10th, Rep. Feigenholtz announced her new OBC search bill, HB 4623. On Tuesday, March 12, the shell bill was transformed into the new 77 page OBC search bill. On Wednesday, March 13th, the new bill went straight to the House Adoption Reform Committee, of which Rep. Feigenholtz just happens to be chair. That very same day, the committee voted 8-1 vote to pass the bill. The new 77 page bill was only put up on the IL website hours before the hearing so there was no time for interested parties to testify. No wonder the committee passed the bill; even they didn't have time to read all 77 pages.

This bill has been rejected by many adoption reform coalitions, including Illinois Open.

The 77 page complete text of the bill is here

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Bastard Nation
Illinois Open My Space
Illinois Open web page
Adoption Reform Illinois Resource Page: HB 4623 opposition coalition letter to legislators and media


CUT AND PASTE ILLINOIS HOUSE:

A full list of contact information is at Illinois Open

eacevedo@hdsmail.state.il.us, Repdistrict3@yahoo.com,
epbassi@aol.com,
strepmbeaubien@aol.com,rep@pbellock.com,
rep_berrios@yahoo.com, bobbiggins@comcast.net, wbblack@cooketech.net,ilrepmikeboland@aol.com, mikebost@midwestmail.com,rbradley@hdsmail.state.il.us,
dan@repdanbrady.com,rbrauerr@housegopmail.state.il.us JBROSNAHAN@PRODIGY.net,burekdj@legis.state.il.us,
Chapalaviali@legis.state.il, usrepcolvin@sbcglobal.net, coulson@earthlink.net,tom@tomcross.com.
Repcurrie@earthlink.net,
mdavis@hdsmail.state.il.us,williamd@legis.state.il.us,
Lisadugan@sbcglobal.net, kendunkin@msn.com,
joe@josephdunn.com, Reddyunit1@aol.com,
sara@staterepsara.com,bobflider@repflider.com,
mflowers@hdsmail.state.il.us,Jack@JackFranks.org,
mystaterep@aol.com,staterep,Paul@sbcglobal.net,
staterepgordon@sbcglobal.net,st.rep.graham@sbcglobal.net,
julie@juliehamos.org,hannig@hdsmail.state.il.us,
hoffman@legis.state.il.us,strephow@legis.state.il.us,
n.jakobsson@worldnet.att.net, staterepchuck67@aol.com,
kevinjoyce35@aol.com,rkosel@aol.com, Repkrause@aol.com,Reploulang@aol.com,
davidleitch@ameritech.net, dstrct50@aol.com,
repmendoza@aol.com, judybe@ameritech.net,mmadigan@housedem.state.il.us, sidneymath@email.msn.com,brandy@ivnet.com,
karenmay58@aol.com, mmcauliffe20@yahoo.com,
kevmac37@sbcglobal.net,jmcguire86@sbcglobal.net,
jhmeyer@gmail.com,repdavidmiller@aol.com,
repmitchell@earthlink.net, repjmitchell@cin.net,
moffitt@grics.com,repmulligan@USA.net, ruthmunson@ruthmunson.com,repmeyers@mccomb.com, enekirtz@repnekritz.org, osmondjoann@aol.com, CGMORROW11132@aol.com,poer@housegopmail.state.il.us,
70thdist@pritchardstaterep.com,johnjmillner@aol.com,
cyberelm@earthlink.com,leader@mcleodusa.net,
epreitz@egyptian.net,Kelly38@sbcglobal.net,
robertbobrita@aol.com,chapin@chapinrose.com, kathy@kathyryg.org,jmsacia@aeroinc.net,
skip@saviano.com,ilrep49@sbcglobal.net,
rslone@bwsys.net,
repscully@sbcglobal.net,mks@winco.com,
sommer@mtco.com,staterepsoto@aol.com,
stephens@apci.net,ilhouse51@sbcglobal.net,
jiltracy@jiltracy.com,rkurtz@mc.net,
pverschoore@legis.state.il.us, RepWait@aol.com,
washington60th@aol.com, jimwatson@localnetco.com,
repwinters@aol.com, kyarbrough@hdsmail.state.il.us,

This was my letter to the Illinois legislators:

My name is Amy K. Burt. I am writing to you about HB 4623. I am asking you to vote NO on this bill. It does not give all adoptees equal rights. It considers some adoptees better than others.

I am considered competent to fight for my country in the Desert Storm War, deliver mail for my country, take payments from the customers of a major telecommunications company., be a parent, pay my taxes, and vote for my state and federal leaders. Somehow I become incompetent to see my own original birth certificate. Interestingly enough, my tax dollars goes to adoption agencies that fight against me and thousands of other adult adoptees. They want to continue to deny me my civil rights under federal law. I am denied my right to privacy because the government is interfering with my life’s decisions. I am also denied my fourth amendment rights. The state of Illinois is holding my original birth certificate in seizure on the presumption of harm. I think if this is the case, then the state needs to explain why they are in the business of adoption.

I am asking you to vote no on this bill. I am asking that the state legislators go back and start simply. Give adoptees access to their own OBCs with a contact preference form. Adoptees did not have choice in their adoptions. Adoptees need to put back on a level playing field as the rest of the adoption triad. Give us back our voices and our rights.

Sincerely,
Amy K. Burt

ILLINOIS OPEN ACTION ALERT

This is from Anita Field, owner of Illinois Open. Its time to make our mark on this one. Lets stand up and fight this bad bill. Time to start writing the legislators in Illinois.

NEW BILL NEEDED TO REPLACE ILLINOIS HB 4623

HB 4623 is a flawed bill. I oppose it in the hope of being able to see it changed into a bill which we can all be proud of; a bill that will serve all adopted men and women equally.

HB 4623 - A FLAWED BILL

• HB 4623 allows birth parents to have the final “say” in whether or not an adopted adult can have his or her original birth certificate. These are the very same birth parents who relinquished all legal rights to their biological offspring at least 21 years ago.
• 
  
• Adopted adults whose birth mothers file a “Denial of Information Request” will not be able to receive a copy of their original birth certificate.
• In prospective adoptions, birth parents will have 21 years after they legally relinquish their offspring to decide whether or not to file a denial of information.


• This bill gives birth parents the option of being “legally anonymous,” a very dangerous precedent to set.


• HB 4623 will divide adoptees into three different groups: 1) those born before 1946; 2) those born between 1946 and 2009; and 3) all prospective adoptions after 2009. Each tier of adoptees will be treated differently under HB 4623.


• The bill continues to treat adopted adults as “children belonging to the state.” It requires all adoptees to use the Illinois Adoption Registry to manage their private and personal affairs. Adopted adults do not need any assistance from an Adoption Registry if they are truly on a par with non-adopted citizens.


• The bill proposes redacting (or whiting-out) of an official document.
  

I do not wish to be a naysayer or a spoiler who wants to prevent any adopted adults from receiving their original birth certificate. Believe me, I’m an adoptee and I know what it feels like to be kept in the dark by the state for decades. It breeds shame

My goal is for every single adoptee in Illinois to be able to request and receive, unconditionally, their original birth certificates. I want every single adoptee in Illinois to be completely severed from any state control when they become adults. I don’t want to leave even one adoptee behind in the clutches of the state.

The only way to accomplish this really modest goal is for the legislators to vote down HB 4623 as quickly as possible. Then we can go right back to the table and work together to write a new bill that will restore the civil and human right of all Illinois adopted adults to access their original birth certificates without bureaucratic restraint or third party interference.

A NEW BILL

All adopted adults, upon reaching the age of majority and upon written request, shall be able to request and receive a copy of their original birth certificate without any restrictions or falsifications on the certificate, in a manner identical to that of all other non-adopted citizens of the state.

• 
  A new and improved bill would be one in which no anonymity forms would be allowed. There could be a respectful non-binding contact form for birth parents to use if they wish.
• 
  
• A new and improved bill would set all adopted adults forever free from government interference with their private lives.
• 
  
• In a new bill, birth parents would not be able to “rule” their biological offspring for the rest of their lives.
• 
  
• A new and improved bill would prevent the state from establishing a new category in the law – one in which the state would give birth parents an assurance of anonymity from their biological offspring.
• 
  
• A new and improved bill would not need any assistance from the Illinois Adoption Registry or the Confidential Intermediary System. A new bill would issue original birth certificates to adopted adults in the very same way all other citizens get their certificates – from the Departments of Public Health of the Departments of Vital Statistics – NOT via an adoption registry. Adopted adults do not need any assistance from an Adoption Registry if they are truly on a par with non-adopted citizens.
• 
  
• A new and improved bill would cut all ties between every single adoptee and the state when the adoptee reaches the age of majority.
• 
  
• A new bill would never try to balance adoptee rights with birth parent rights.
  

Writing a bill to help some adoptees isn’t just, it isn’t fair and it isn’t the right thing to do. It takes the same amount of work and energy to help ALL adoptees as it does to help only some of them.

So let’s do it.

Please take just a few minutes to help all adopted adults. You can write to your representative in the Illinois House of Representatives and let him or her know that you believe HB 4623 is a damaged bill and that it must not be allowed to pass in the House. Instead, a new bill must be crafted to take its place, one that will treat all adopted adults equally.

You can find out who your representative is, please go to

http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/SelectSearchType.aspx