ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session

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HB 2600: adoption; original birth certificate; release

Sponsor:  Representative Roberts, LD 11

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Outlines provisions for the State Registrar (Registrar) to provide an original copy of the birth certificate that has been sealed due to adoption.

History

Current law requires the Registrar to seal a certificate and evidentiary documents when the Registrar amends the registered certificate. Unless required by a court order, the Registrar may not issue a copy of a certificate or other sealed record. (A.R.S. § 36-322)

Provisions

1. Requires the Registrar to provide an individual a copy of their original birth certificate that has been sealed due to an adoption and to provide any evidence of the adoption that is held with the original birth certificate, if all of the following are true:

a) The Individual is at least 18 years of age;

b) The individual was born in this state; and

c) The individual submits to the Registrar a written request to receive a copy of the original birth certificate. (Sec. 4)

2. Stipulates that the copy of the original birth certificate must clearly indicate that it is not a certified copy and that it may not be used for legal purposes. (Sec. 4)

3. Stipulates the fees and procedures that apply to obtaining a copy of a registered certificate apply to an original birth certificate. (Sec. 4)

4. Requires the Registrar to develop a contact preference form which may be filled out by a birth parent and kept with the original birth certificate. (Sec. 4)

5. States the preference form must indicate if the birth parent wants to do any of the following:

a) Be contacted by the individual who receives the copy of the original birth certificate;

b) Be contacted only through an intermediary; or

c) Not be contacted. (Sec. 4)

6. Requires the preference form to indicate if the birth parent has completed and filed with the Registrar a medical history form. (Sec. 4)

7. Directs the Registrar to develop a medical history form which may be completed by a birth parent. (Sec. 4)

8. Mandates that the contact preference form and medical history form are confidential. (Sec. 4)

9. Requires the Registrar to seal the forms and retain them with the original birth certificate if the birth parent files the forms. (Sec. 4)

10. Requires the forms to be given to the individual who receives the original birth certificate.   (Sec. 4)

11. Prohibits the Registrar from keeping a copy of the contact preference form or the medical history form. (Sec. 4)

12. Allows a birth parent to file an amended contact preference form or medical history form with the Registrar. (Sec. 4)

13. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2 and 3)

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17.                   HB 2600

18. Initials IG/AG        Page 0 Health & Human Services

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