Michigan Adoptee Rights

Advocates and allied organizations supporting equal rights for all adopted people in Michigan

Michigan, We Have Liftoff

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Michigan legislators have introduced a bi-partisan legislative package that does one thing: restores the birth record rights of all Michigan-born adopted people. The hard work of enacting the bills is now in play.

HB5148: Deborah’s Law

HB5148, carried by Rep. Kristian Grant (D) amends Michigan vital records law so that all Michigan-born adult adopted persons and their descendants may request and obtain a copy of the adopted person’s original birth record. The requests will be made and fulfilled directly through the state registrar, without the need to involve the court or Michigan’s notoriously slow and ineffective Central Adoption Registry (CAR). The bill is called “Deborah’s Law” in honor of Rep. Grant’s mother, who is a Michigan-born adoptee. It has been referred to the Family, Children and Seniors Committee.

HB5149

HB5149, carried by Rep. Pat Outman (R) severs the the state’s Central Adoption Registry from controlling the release of pre-adoption birth records, while at the same time repealing the differential treatment of adoptees based on the date that parental rights had been terminated. While HB5149 has been referred initially to the Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee, it is believed it will be re-reffered to the correct committee, which is Children, Family and Seniors.

The bill package reflects a long grassroots process to assure bipartisan support for an unrestricted equal rights bill. It also reflects the patient leadership and commitment of Rep. Grant and Rep. Outman.

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Comments

  1. Carrie Engevik says

    God bless the birth parents who gave me up for adoption, but why does anyone NOT in this donut hole have any more rights to their adoption records than me? I feel discriminated against simply for being born in the 60’s. These laws need to be repealed to give all adoptees the same rights and privileges.

  2. Jennifer Alton says

    I”d really like to help more. 🙂 I”m a Michigan adoptee from 1972. Almost didn’t get my passport and have been held up at customs more than once. I’d be happy to talk or support at a press conference or otherwise. just lmk.