SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 54

(By Senators Azinger, Baldwin, Beach, Boso, Clements, Cline, Hardesty, Jeffries, Lindsay, Maynard, Romano, Rucker, Smith, Weld, Woelfel, and Trump)

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; Reported on March 7, 2019]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the appropriateness of granting access to adoption records to adult adoptees.

Whereas, Many adult adoptees have profound personal or medical interests in obtaining information regarding their birth parents; and

Whereas, Many birth parents desire anonymity and confidentiality regarding the adoption process and any adoption records, and are relying on the contracts they signed at the time of the adoption that guaranteed confidentiality; and

Whereas, Adoption records are only obtained through great difficulty and birth parents are often unlocatable or deceased; and

Whereas, A majority of states grant limited access to certain adoption records without first obtaining a court order; and

Whereas, The interest of both adoptees and birth parents should be respected; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the appropriateness of granting access to adoption records to adult adoptees; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance examine the feasibility of the Department of Health and Human Resources locating birth parents, obtaining the health and medical history of the birth parents, and obtaining consent to release certain adoption records; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2020, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.