Muddle with BAD Amendments; Please Push to Kill This Bill
I hate doing this, but sometimes it must be done. Louisiana’s Adoptee Rights Bill HB No. 1028 got hit with really bad amendments before the vote in the House. While it did pass the House, HB 1028 is so bad now, that we need to work on killing it.
“Our intent and goal for HB 1028 was to restore that right to Adult Adoptees over the age of 25 after a waiting and outreach period that allowed a birth parent the option to protect their privacy while simultaneously requiring them to provide an accurate, current and updated family medical history. LASA specifically included protective language to address our opponents’ concern of birth parent confidentiality and HB 1028, as we originally constructed it, was balanced and fair to all.
Unfortunately, without our knowledge or approval, last minute amendments were added to the bill immediately prior to the House vote that significantly changed the bill’s structure and intent. Because our primary purpose is to serve members of the Adoption Triad (Adoptees, Birth Parents, and Adoptive Parents), LASA took time after the passage of the amended HB 1028 to listen to their concerns and feelings. As a result of those conversations, LASA feels it must honor and respect the Triad’s collective voice and therefore we are officially withdrawing our support of HB 1028.”
Messy Amendments Ruin a Decent Adoptee Rights Bill
The full text of the AMENDED version can be read here: http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=894692&n=HB1028%20Reengrossed
In plain language, the way the bill is worded, NO disclosure veto is needed because by just NOT contacting the registry, the information is redacted or not given out.
An OBC is only given out if the birth parent consents by contacting the registry, paying the money going through the psychological consultation that the registry requires, and okaying the release. But if the other parent has no clue about the registry, or if any parent doesn’t contact them to specifically say yes, then the information is redacted. ie. NO NEED TO FILE A DISCLOSURE VETO and then no requirement to update history.
For an adoptee to get the OBC, they have to do the whole registry deal, register, get the psych. sign off of counseling then hope that both of their birth parents actually contacted the registry to say yes. It’s actually worse than the Welsh Amendment that was added to the GA bill that stalled.
Kill the Bill
So as this did pass the House, the next step is on to the Senate in Louisiana. We really do not want that to happen for IF it DID get passed, then LA would have a really lousy OBC access bill and it will be some years before another one could be introduced. It is better, in this case, to kill the bill and wait until the next legislative session to reintroduce a clean OBC Access bill.
According to my source, Senator Daniel Martiny, who is a FRIEND of adoption and actually understands this issue, has said that if he gets calls, letters, and such OPPOSING the bill, then he will NOT pursue it for the Senate.
So we need to contact Sen. Martiny TODAY and stop this bill.
- His email is martinyd@legis.la.gov
- Phone: 225-342-2366
- Fax: 225-377-2220
Please just be respectful (as this is NOT his fault) and let him know that you do NOT support Louisiana Bill HB No. 1028 in its current form and do NOT want to see it become law.
LA will have to join GA for the “next year” list. Better luck next time, but remember to keep the pressure on Gov Christie in NJ , NY, CT and PA!
Colorado has passed BOTH pending bills and await the governor’s signature!!
UPDATE: HB 1028 in Louisiana is headed to Senate Judiciary A –
Please contact the committee members and OPPOSE THIS BILL. The amendments destroyed the original intention of the bill and it now employs consent only based access through a registry as well as automatic redactions for parents who do not contact the registry.
It is not an OBC access bill and does damage to the cause of equality in access in Louisiana.
- Senator Ben Nevers (Chairman) 724 Avenue F Bogalusa, LA 70427 (985) 732-6863 neversb@legis.la.gov
- Senator Dan Claitor (Vice-Chairman) 7520 Perkins Road Suite 160 Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 765-0206 claitord@legis.la.gov
- Senator Conrad Appel 721 Papworth Avenue Suite 102A Metairie, LA 70005 (866) 946-3133 appelc@legis.la.gov
- Senator Jack Donahue 3030 East Causeway Approach Mandeville, LA 70448 (985) 727-7949 donahuej@legis.la.gov
- Senator Daniel “Danny” Martiny (FRIEND OF THE CAUSE) 131 Airline Highway Suite 201 Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 834-7676 martinyd@legis.la.gov
- Senator Edwin R. Murray 1540 N. Broad St. New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 945-0042 murraye@legis.la.gov
- Senator Rick Ward, III 3741 Highway 1 Port Allen, LA 70767 (225) 246-8838 wardr@legis.la.gov
COPY AND PASTE ALL of the ABOVE EMAILS: neversb@legis.la.gov, claitord@legis.la.gov, appelc@legis.la.gov, donahuej@legis.la.gov, martinyd@legis.la.gov, murraye@legis.la.gov, wardr@legis.la.gov
