CaliforniaVital records: adoptees' birth certificates.
What it does
Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing personal information that would link the information to the individual unless, among other things, the information is provided to a governmental entity by law, or the disclosure is to the individual to whom the information pertains. Existing law makes vital records related to adoptions, other than a newly issued birth certificate, available only upon the order of the superior court of the county of residence of the adopted child or of the county granting the order of adoption.
More detail
This bill would authorize, beginning on July 1, 2028, the disclosure of an original birth certificate, as defined, to an adopted person, or descendant, as defined, of a deceased adopted person, would require the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and would establish a process to request an original birth certificate, as specified. The bill would also require the State Registrar to create and make available to a birth parent a contact preference form on or before July 1, 2028, containing certain elections that would be available for release when a request for an original birth certificate is made.
Existing law requires the clerk of the court to report the decree to the State Registrar within 5 days after a decree of adoption. Existing law requires the State Registrar to generate a new birth certificate when the State Registrar receives a report of adoption from a specified court or when the State Registrar receives a specified court order.
Existing law requires the new birth certificate to bear certain information and be identical to the certificate issued to the natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, the certificate is required to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents.
This bill would remove the adopted parents exception described above that required the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents.
Existing law authorizes the adopting parents to request an amended certificate that omits, among other things, the city and county of birth, or the color and race of the parents.
This bill would repeal that authorization.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 13August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.Latest
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Jun 23June 23 hearing postponed by committee.
- Jun 11June 16 hearing postponed by committee.
- May 21From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Major
- May 4Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.Minor
- Jan 27In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB381 Wahab et al. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 3299.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Jan 26Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jan 22Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 22From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3268.) (January 22).Major
- Jan 21Set for hearing January 22.
- Jan 20January 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 16Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jan 15From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3224.) (January 14).Major
- Jan 14From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3214.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 13
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Health]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 7Set for hearing January 14 in HEALTH pending receipt.
- Jan 6Set for hearing January 13.
- Jan 5Re-referred to Coms. on JUD. and HEALTH.Minor
- Jan 5Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Jan 5Withdrawn from committee.Major
- Jan 5From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- 2025
- Feb 26Referred to Coms. on JUD. and APPR.Minor
- Feb 18From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
- Feb 14Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced