Former State Rep. urges support for adoptee rights reform

Editor's note: This is one in an ongoing series of posts spotlighting support for our continued effort to provide adult adoptees born in Connecticut access to their original birth certificates. The testimony featured in this series was submitted to the state Legislature earlier this year in support of proposed legislation that would have restored the right of adult adoptees adopted before Oct. 1, 1983, to access their original birth certificate. (Post-1983 adoptees had this right restored in 2014.) The letters are published with the authors' permission. Sign up for our newsletter at www.accessconnecticut.org if you want to help us end discrimination against adoptees.

To:

Co-chair Senator Cassano
Co-chair Senator Logan
Co-chair Representative Lemar
Members of the Planning and Development Commi ttee

My name is Joe Diminico. I am a former State Representative from the 13th Assembly District representing Manchester and Glastonbury. I am also a former member of your distinguished committee. I am writing in support of SB 977.

Back in 2014, former State Representative David Alexander and I co-sponsored HB 5144. That bill was eventuall y voted into law as Public Act 14-133 in effect allowing post October 1, 1983 adoptees to obtain their original birth certificate. This act also had a modest positive gain on the revenue side.

I believe it to be a basic human and civil right for every person to know his or her biological origins. Senate Bill 977 will reduce or eliminate disclosure of birth parents identity to third parties in part due to impact of the availability of consumer DNA testing. This bill, SB 977, would also require the Department of Children and Families to provide birth parents with a contact preference form allowing them to privately express their preference for contact. The time has come to extend this right to al l Connecticut adoptees. Thank you.

Joe Diminico