HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 49

(By Delegates Perdue, Hatfield, Boggs, Campbell, Cann, Fleischauer, Longstreth, Marshall, Moore, Moye, Pino, Rodighiero, Stalnaker, Spencer, Wysong, Ashley, Border, Canterbury, Lane, Miller J., Rowan and Sumner)


(Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources)

[February 13, 2008]


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the impact of allowing adopted persons access to their original birth certificates and allowing birth parents to include contact preference information and medical history information with original birth certificates.

Whereas, There is growing understanding of the need to know one's history, heritage, medical and genealogical data; and
Whereas, Denying adult adopted persons access to information related to their births and adoptions has potentially serious, negative consequences with regard to their physical and mental health; and
W HEREAS , The United States Surgeon General's Office in its Family History Initiative has recognized that biological family history is vital to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions for which individuals may be genetically predisposed, such as heart disease, cancer and certain mental health conditions; and
W HEREAS , Many adopted persons believe they are entitled to the same basic information about themselves as people reared in their birth families; and
W HEREAS , Adopted persons are the only individuals who, as a class, are not permitted to routinely obtain their original birth certificates; therefore, be it
Resolved by the West Virginia Legislature:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the impact of establishing a process by which an adult adopted person, the child or children of a deceased adopted person or an adopted person judged incompetent by a court of law, or a legal representative of an adopted person may obtain a copy of that person's original unamended and unaltered birth certificate; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, as part of the study, consider allowing a birth parent to include with the child's original birth certificate a form that indicates whether the parent wishes to be contacted by the child and an updated medical history form.
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee of Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2009, 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.