HCS SB 21 -- ADOPTION RECORDS AND PUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRY FUND

Currently, the Children's Division within the Department of
Social Services maintains a registry whereby birth parents and
adopted adults may indicate their desire to be contacted.
Adopted adults must petition a court to obtain identifying
information regarding their biological parents.  This bill allows
courts to directly disclose identifying information to an adopted
adult upon their written request if their biological parents or
adult siblings have consented in writing to the disclosure.
Adult siblings are also allowed to participate in the registry.
The definitions for "adopted adult" and "adult sibling" are
changed to include those who are 18 years of age or older, and
the definition of "adopted child" is changed to include any
adopted person who is younger than 18 years of age.

The bill creates the Putative Father Registry Fund in the state
treasury for the deposit of moneys received from the filing fees
of an adoption petition to be used solely for the administration
of the putative father registry.  Moneys in the fund will not
revert to general revenue at the end of the biennium.  The
department is allowed to establish and implement an advertising
campaign to recruit adoptive and foster care families and is
required to establish a 24-hour, toll-free telephone number to
assist persons inquiring about becoming adoptive or foster
parents.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm