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New York Adoptee Rights Coalition

We work to restore the right of adult adoptees in New York to obtain their original birth certificates without conditions or restrictions.

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Where Things Stand Now

July 9, 2019 By New York Adoptee Rights Coalition

Since passage of the Weprin/Montgomery Bill less than three weeks ago, we’ve heard plenty of unfounded rumors and have lately had to deal with groups who still desire to derail our work and to pursue a different and inequitable agenda. It’s time to set a few things straight and to outline what we are working on as our efforts continue.

First, despite crazy conspiracy theories making their rounds, our bill is not going to be vetoed. We are confident in that. It had overwhelming legislative support, is fundamentally and legally sound, and has the support of Governor Cuomo’s administration. Right now, the legislature and the governor’s office is simply dealing with the logistics of New York legislation. Here’s what that currently looks like.

The New York Assembly and Senate passed at least 1,000 bills this past session. Of those, only a small fraction have been delivered to the Governor for signature. Nearly 90 percent of all bills passed by both chambers are still awaiting the next step: delivery to the governor. This is typically a coordinated effort where the logistics of choosing which bills to consider—and when to consider them—are worked out between the legislative and executive branches. Typically, bills are packaged and sent over in bulk for consideration, and we do not have concerns about our bill making it to the governor’s desk.

Bill Status as of July 8, 2019
The downside to this is waiting for bills to be delivered to Governor Cuomo. While we love our bill and support it—and it has overwhelming love and support from hundreds of thousands of others—we don’t expect it to get special treatment or a white-gloved silver platter delivery to the governor. It’s special, sure, but it’s not the bellwether of New York politics. So we wait, and we continue to be in contact with legislators and the governor’s office about progress. Obviously, once we hear anything, we’ll pass that information on. But speculating about who knows what and why there has been a “delay” does nothing but make this current legislative process worse. Just hang tight. We will get there. If you keep asking us, we’ll tell you the same thing: we expect Governor Cuomo to sign the bill once he has it in front of him. No one is hiding the ball here.

What We Are Doing

We are doing two things, and one will involve you. First, we are maintaining contact with key legislators and with the Cuomo administration. We want to know when the bill may be delivered and we also want to know anything else that can help get it signed quickly.

That said, there are things you can do, and we will be rolling out those efforts this week. Namely, contacting Governor Cuomo to express support and enactment of S3419, the Adoptee Rights Bill. You are free to do that now if you want, but we will also be coordinating a wave of support over the next several weeks. Basically, we don’t want a mass campaign with thousands of emails and calls going to the Governor’s office on one or two days, then nothing happening after that. We will also be targeting those emails and calls so that they can provide better context for you and for the Governor, such as telling Governor Cuomo that your representatives support the bill (if you are a New York resident) or that you are an adoptee in another state, a birthparent, or an adoptive parent. It’s key that we continue to highlight the broad and universal support behind enactment of S3419.

Know one thing: we did it. We did what was needed and we remain positive that our progress will continue. Now let’s pull together and get it done. Look for emails and posts from us as we work on the next phase of enacting equal rights legislation for New York’s adult adoptees. Thank you!

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Governor Cuomo, S3419

About NYARC

The New York Adoptee Rights Coalition works to restore the right of all adult adoptees in New York to obtain their own original birth certificates, without conditions or restrictions. Join Us • Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sharon Siettas says

    July 9, 2019 at 12:25 pm

    Thank you for update and May I once again say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work and perseverance ❤️

  2. Alan (Al) Robertson says

    July 9, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve noticed some news reporting that Gov. Cuomo has started signing other bills into law. I assume S3419 is in the assortment of bills awaiting his signature. I’m keeping a watchful eye

  3. Gail Agresta says

    July 9, 2019 at 12:54 pm

    My husband was adopted in NY 54 yrs ago and it has always bothered him he isn’t allowed to know where his belly button was connected to, as he puts it. When he heard this news he was over-joyed to say the least! Thank you, thank you for all your efforts getting this bill passed! He is looking forward to the very least finding out his mother’s name

  4. David Taylor (Barry Gordon) says

    July 9, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    Thank you for all you have and are doing. I live in Florida but was adopted through Louise Wise in NY. I have been searching for my birth parents who by now are in their mid 70’s. Now at 58, I have been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, so time is running out for me to find my biological family.

  5. Steve Passage says

    July 9, 2019 at 2:34 pm

    Do unsigned NY bills automatically become law at some point?

  6. Alberta Russell says

    July 9, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    Thank you Annette for the update posted today. I guess we are all getting antsy, and your post will bring about patience, 🙂

  7. Mary Williamson says

    July 9, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    I am a adoptee adoptions from the angel Guardian home in Brooklyn New York and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the passage of this bill! Thank you!

  8. Barbara Andrews says

    July 9, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    Thank you.

  9. Renee Green says

    July 9, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    As much as I’m looking forward to see my original birth records, I’m weary if anything true was noted. Names could have been changed etc,,

  10. Nancy Galone Fay says

    July 9, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    I am supporting the Adoptee Rights Bill 100%. I thought it was a done deal, except for waiting until Jan. 2020 to apply for my original birth certificate. I hope & pray it states my birth father’s name, since I found my maternal family through Ancestry DNA.

  11. Judy Scanlon says

    July 10, 2019 at 1:59 am

    very encouraging, thank you! This update helped renew my excitement and confidence that our bill will be signed into law. I had just seen another post elsewhere today, saying that in the past, some in the governors office said they would support the bill except that the cost to NYS to implement the change and process might be too much, so it was not a sure thing that Cuomo would sign. I was getting worried!

  12. Susan Goodman says

    July 11, 2019 at 2:56 am

    Thank you. Who or which groups are still trying to derail us. What type of sources are the negative rumors coming from?

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Organizations that Support Us

The following organizations, while not core partners, support the work of the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition.

  • AdoptieZaken & Familierecht (AZF/Netherlands)
  • California Open
  • Canada Open Records
  • Concerned United Birthparents
  • Equality for Adoptees
  • Indiana Open
  • Italiadoption
  • Know Your Own
  • Michigan Open Records
  • Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform
  • Missouri Open
  • National Center on Adoption and Permanency
  • New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
  • Nevada Open
  • Post Adoption Center for Education & Resources (PACER)

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UPDATE: New York State Applications

New State Directive Addresses Adoptees Born Outside of New York

UPDATE: New York State Numbers

Current Coalition Partners

  • Adoptee Rights Law Center
  • Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York
  • Bastard Nation

 

Strategic Partners
  • Reclaim the Records

About NYARC

The New York Adoptee Rights Coalition works to restore the right of adult adoptees in New York to obtain their original birth certificates without conditions or restrictions.

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