House Sponsors: FEIGENHOLTZ-WIRSING-ERWIN-MCKEON-CROSS, JOHNSON,TOM AND FRANKS. Senate Sponsors: CULLERTON-MADIGAN,L-SULLIVAN Short description: ADOPTION REGISTRY Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Adoption Act. Creates the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange to replace the current Adoption Registry. Provides that on and after January 1, 2000 birth parents shall be asked to register with the Registry and complete a Medical Information Exchange Questionnaire at the time a child is surrendered for adoption. Provides for the establishment of an Adoption/Surrender Records File for all records pertaining to each surrender or adoption case finalized by court action in Illinois on or after January 1, 2000 (with some cases finalized before that date included). Provides that the Illinois Adoption Registry Application shall include space for general information of the parties, the Medical Information Exchange Questionnaire, space for a written statement by the applicant, and contact information for the applicant. Provides for the conditions under which the Registry may release information upon finding a match. Provides for a $40 registration fee, which shall be waived for parties completing a medical information questionnaire and certain others. Exempts the State, any agency or employee thereof, any private agency, and any attorney for good faith acts within the scope of this amendatory Act of 1999. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange Fund. Repeals current provisions regarding the Adoption Registry and liability. Effective immediately. JUDICIAL NOTE (Administrative Office of Ill. Courts) There may be an increase in judicial workloads; impact on the number of judges needed cannot be determined. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts language similar to the introduced bill, but extends the information campaign to be undertaken by the Department of Public Health regarding the Registry from 6 months to one year, and to 4 years on license renewal applications; expands the persons for whom an Adoption/Surrender Records File shall be established; provides that all forms filed with the Registry shall be accompanied by appropriate identification; identifies who may execute adoption-related documents in foreign countries; and provides that an Adoption Registry Authorization allows a person to access information not in his or her Adoption/Surrender Records File. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. FISCAL NOTE (Department of Public Health) Cost the first 3 years would be $375,000 annually; subsequent year annual costs would be $125,000. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 1 (Department of Public Health) No change from previous DPH note. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Deletes reference to: 750 ILCS 50/18.063 new Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts language similar to House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes: provides that participation in the Illinois Adoption Registry is voluntary and takes place between mutually consenting parties; provides that the directive to the Department of Public Health to redefine the function of the Registry is subject to appropriation; provides that Adoption/Surrender records files may be established for adoptions finalized prior to, on, and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly; provides that the Medical Exchange Questionnaire may include a disclaimer that the Department of Public Health cannot guarantee the accuracy of medical information exchanged; removes provisions regarding execution of documents in foreign countries and executing documents in the military; removes provision authorizing certain persons to assist a birth parent in completing the Registry Application; provides that disclosure of identifying information in violation of the Act is a Class C misdemeanor; and makes other changes. Effective immediately. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: 750 ILCS 50/18.051 new 750 ILCS 50/18.052 new 750 ILCS 50/18.053 new 750 ILCS 50/18.054 new 750 ILCS 50/18.055 new 750 ILCS 50/18.056 new 750 ILCS 50/18.057 new 750 ILCS 50/18.058 new 750 ILCS 50/18.059 new 750 ILCS 50/18.060 new 750 ILCS 50/18.061 new 750 ILCS 50/18.062 new 750 ILCS 50/18.1 rep. 750 ILCS 50/18.3 rep. 750 ILCS 50/18.5 rep. 750 ILCS 50/18.6 rep. Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-115 750 ILCS 50/18.04 new 750 ILCS 50/18.05 new 750 ILCS 50/18.06 new 750 ILCS 50/18.07 new 750 ILCS 50/18.1 750 ILCS 50/18.1a new 750 ILCS 50/18.1b new 750 ILCS 50/18.1c new 750 ILCS 50/18.2 750 ILCS 50/18.3 750 ILCS 50/18.4a 750 ILCS 50/18.5 750 ILCS 50/18.6 750 ILCS 50/18.7 new 750 ILCS 50/18.8 new Deletes everything. Amends the Adoption Act. Provides for an Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange to facilitate the exchange of identifying information and medical information between birth parents, adoptive parents or legal guardians of adopted persons, adopted persons age 21 or older, and adopted persons' birth siblings who are age 21 or older. Creates the Adoption Registry Advisory Council to advise the Depart- ment of Public Health on the development of rules, procedures, and forms used by the Registry, make other recommendations, and submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor. Provides for the creation of an Adoption/Surrender Records File for each adopted or surrendered person born, adopted, or surrendered in Illinois. Pro- vides for a $40 fee for registering with the Registry and Medical Exchange, which fee shall be waived for parties to an adoption and birth siblings of an adopted person who complete a Medical Informa- tion Exchange Questionnaire and birth and adoptive parents regis- tering within 12 months of the adoption. Creates the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange Fund as a special fund into which fees shall be deposited and which shall be used to operate the Registry and Medical Exchange. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to add provisions requiring notice of the Registry and Medical Exchange to be included with notices of drivers' license renewals. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2000. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 91-0417 Last action date: 99-08-06 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 2 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status