HB 14-1042 Summary

• Requires custodians of records (courts, state agencies, licensed child placement agencies, maternity homes) to provide birth parents with copies of relinquishment documents signed by or on behalf of the birth parent when parental rights are voluntarily relinquished outside of dependency and neglect proceedings.

• Specifies accessible records include the original birth certificate, petition to relinquish, final order of relinquishment, affidavit of counseling, temporary waiver of custody, expedited relinquishment documents, relinquishment interrogatory, order for publication, notice to terminate parent-child relationship, and birth mother's medical records related to pregnancy and birth.

• Allows birth parents to request and receive copies of relinquishment records at any time upon written request and proof of identification if records were not provided at the time of relinquishment, provided the termination was not result of a dependency or neglect action.

• Protects licensed child placement agencies from liability for failure to produce records that did not exist pursuant to Colorado law or rules at the time of relinquishment.

• Appropriates $14,423 and 0.3 FTE to the Department of Public Health and Environment for implementation, effective August 6, 2014, subject to voter approval in November 2014.