NYARC’s Transparency in Pursuing Adoptee Rights: a 2019 Bill

We’ve been working hard to move forward with a bill for the 2019 New York legislative session. That work is often in the background and involves conversations with legislators, legislative directors, and other officials. It means working with numerous people and organizations to come up with the best strategy to move the issue forward and to enact clean legislation that will ensure our commitment to an unrestricted right for adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates.

That work must always be as transparent as possible so that you know what we are doing and what we are seeking. With that in mind, we are making the text of the current bill under discussion available for your review. It is here as a PDF, and we have also added it to our ongoing Bills page, which will always list any current bills being introduced or considered in the New York Assembly or Senate.

We continue to believe the best route to enact legislation is to to work closely with Assembly Member David Weprin and a Senate colleague dedicated to our issue. Competing bills with other legislators will not help current efforts. In fact, it will likely impede progress if , as in prior sessions, other competing bills are introduced.

Let us know your thoughts. We will be back in touch as the legislative session gets closer. It is looking positive for the next session, particularly given recent midterm results and the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office on this issue. Stay engaged!