2018 -- H 7249

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LC003641

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, Serpa, Ucci, and Winfield

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 15-7 of the General Laws entitled "Adoption of Children" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     15-7-27. Mutual consent voluntary sibling adoption registry.

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     (a) In addition to other procedures by which birth certificates may be inspected under this

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chapter, the division of vital records shall establish a mutual consent voluntary sibling adoption

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registry through which adult adopted children and adult siblings may register to obtain identifying

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birth information. For the purposes of this section, adult adopted child shall be defined as an adult

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adoptee twenty-five (25) years of age or older in accordance with ยง 23-3-1, and an adult adopted

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sibling shall be any person eighteen (18) years of age or older.

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     (b) Provided that all of the following conditions are met, the director of the division of

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vital records shall reveal the identity of the adult adopted child to an adult sibling and shall notify

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the parties involved that the requests have been matched, and disclose the identifying information

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to those parties if:

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     (1) An adult adopted child has filed a request and provided consent to the revelation of

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the adult adopted child's identity to an adult sibling.

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     (2) The adult sibling has filed a request and provided consent to the revelation of the

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identity of the adult sibling to the adult adopted child.

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     (3) The division of vital records has been provided with sufficient information to make

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the requested match.

 

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     (c) A person who has filed a request or provided consent under this section may withdraw

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the consent at any time prior to the release of any information by filing a written withdrawal of

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consent statement with the division of vital records. The adult adoptee or adult sibling shall notify

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the division of vital records of any change in the information contained in a filed request or

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consent.

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     (d) The division of vital records is hereby empowered and directed to promulgate rules

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and regulations necessary to implement this section including, but not limited to, a fee for

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administering services pursuant to this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

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     This act would establish a voluntary mutual consent sibling adoption registry where adult

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adopted children and adult siblings can identify each other.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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