A Massachusetts equal rights bill, which removes date-based restrictions on the release of an adopted person’s own original birth certificate, is again in committee for hearing. Here’s what it does and what you can do.
What do the bills do?
The bills remove a restriction that prohibits the release of an original birth certificate to specific adult adopted persons who was born in Massachusetts between certain dates. Current law does not allow an adopted person in Massachusetts to request and obtain his or her own OBC unless they were born before July 17, 1974, or or on or after January 1, 2008. Current law looks like this:
The bill removes this date-based restriction so that all Massachusetts adult adopted people may request and obtain their own original birth certificates, without discriminatory conditions or restrictions.
What are the bill numbers?
In the Massachusetts House, the bill number is H1892. The identical Senate bill is S1267.
What is the language or text of the bills?
The entire text of the bill strikes thirteen words, including the the restrictive dates, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 2B of chapter 46 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the words “on or before July 17, 1974 or on or after January 1, 2008”. SECTION 2. Said section 2B of chapter 46, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 6, the words “on or after January 1, 2008”.
Information and full text of the bills are here, and a PDF of H1892 is here.
Who are the sponsors of each bill and how many co-sponsors do the bills have?
Sean Garbelley and Dan Cullinane are the prime sponsors of the bill in the House. Anne Gobi is the prime sponsor in the Senate. There are currently 41 additional co-sponsors in the House and fifteen additional co-sponsors in the Senate.
What’s next in the legislative process for these bills?
The bills are set for a public hearing on December 10, 2019, before the Joint Committee on Public Health. There are 17 members of that joint committee, and the Senate chair of the committee is a co-sponsor of S1287.
What’s the opposition to this bill?
The opposition is hard to figure out, other than one or two key legislative leaders have for years been adamantly opposed to securing universal equal rights for adult adopted people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Recent developments in New York and other states—where long-time legislative opponents have reversed their long-held convictions— may now also convince leaders in Massachusetts to reconsider their positions.
What can I do today?
You can contact members of the Joint Public Health Committee, which is considering the bill next week. We have provided contact information below, and there are also action alerts—with suggested messaging— that have also been issued by OBC for Massachusetts and Bastard Nation. Other action alerts are expected.
Members of the Public Health Committee
| Legislator | Committee Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Jo Comerford | Senate Chair | [email protected] |
| John J. Mahoney | House Chair | [email protected] |
| Nick Collins | Senate Vice Chair | [email protected] |
| Chynah Tyler | House Vice Chair | [email protected] |
| Hannah Kane | Ranking House Minority | [email protected] |
| Michelle L. Ciccolo | House Member | [email protected] |
| Brendan Crighton | Senate Member | [email protected] |
| Julian Cyr | Senate Member | [email protected] |
| Jonathan Hecht | House Member | [email protected] |
| Donald Humason, Jr. | Senate Member | [email protected] |
| Mary Keefe | House Member | [email protected] |
| Jack Lewis | House Member | [email protected] |
| Rebecca Rausch | Senate Member | [email protected] |
| Jon Santiago | House Member | [email protected] |
| Paul Schmid III | House Member | [email protected] |
| Michael J. Soter | House Member | [email protected] |
| Andres X. Vargas | House Member | [email protected] |
Simple Email List
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Comma Separated Email List
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Birthmother/adoptive mother
Worked at Catholic Charities 12 yrs.
Concerned United Birthparents
Director Region 1
Facilitator CUB Support Group for Birth/First parents & Adoptees
Previously testified before Committee at Boston State House to support complete open access
Appalling gap in civil rights of adopted people. Let’s close that gap!