Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, January 22, 2016
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Thursday, the Indiana State Senate signaled a clear message of support for Indiana’s adult adoptees by voting 43-5 in favor of Senate Bill 91, which if passed would give adult adoptees from Indiana’s “closed records” period access to their original birth certificate and adoption records.
The bill is authored by Sen. Brent Steele (R) and Sen. Mike Delph (R), and co-authored by Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D). It will now travel to the Indiana House of Representatives for committee consideration.
Advocates from Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records (HEAR), a non-profit formed to push for adult adoptee access legislation in Indiana, praised members of the Senate for hearing the concerns of adoptees.
"This bill is so important to adult adoptees across Indiana," said Pam Kroskie, president of HEAR. "We are deeply grateful to the Indiana State Senate for pushing Hoosier adoptees one step closer to equal access to records."
Under current law, Hoosiers adopted after 1994 have access to their records. Those adopted between 1941 and 1993 during Indiana's "closed records" period are forced to use a difficult and expensive intermediary system for getting their records--causing many to quit their search in frustration, or never start. The new law will equalize access to information for all adoptees.
To keep a direct line of communication open with the public and legislators, HEAR has created a website that offers updates on the bill and an interface for easily writing legislators with messages of support. Visit the website at http://www.indianahear.org.
About HEAR
Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records, Inc. (HEAR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to removing the shame and secrecy surrounding Indiana's closed adoptions period. It calls on adoptees, birth/first mothers, adoptive parents and adoption placement professionals to band together to improve adoption education, and promote adult adoptees' access to their original birth certificates.
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