HB 357 Summary: Adoptee Birth Certificates

• Creates section 382.0155 to allow the Department of Health to issue noncertified copies of original birth certificates (front side only, excluding medical information) to eligible adoptees and birth parents under specified conditions.

• For adoptions finalized on or after July 1, 2018, immediately grants access to adult adoptees age 18+, their adult descendants with notarized consent, and birth parents named on the original certificate.

• For adoptions finalized between July 1, 1977 and June 30, 2018, beginning February 1, 2019, allows access only if both birth parent and adoptee/descendant request it, the adoption was finalized at least 40 years prior, and the birth parent is deceased or presumed deceased.

• Requires the department to develop and make available to birth parents a contact preference and medical history form allowing them to indicate whether they wish direct contact, indirect contact through a third party, or no contact with the adoptee.

• Requires the department to publish statistics on its website regarding the number of contact preference forms on file and the breakdown of contact preferences indicated.

• Takes effect July 1, 2018.