This adoption month, Pennsylvania has made some important changes that increase adoptees’ access to information about their birth families. In addition, some changes were made to the law that governs termination of parental rights.
Expanded access to birth records and medical information
A year from now, adoptees born in Pennsylvania will have access to their original birth record information. The law, signed by the governor on November 3, also establishes a process for adoptive parents, or adult adoptees, to obtain medical information and to have contact with birth parents. The law allows birth parents to choose whether to allow contact from adoptive parents and adoptees, whether directly or through an intermediary. Birth parents will have the opportunity to file medical information with the Department of Health. Birth parents can also choose to have their name redacted from the original birth information. However, if a birth parent chooses to have his or her information redacted, the information may still be provided after the parent’s death. Department of Health must establish policies and procedures to implement the law within 210 days.
New provisions for termination of parental rights
On October 28, Pennsylvania revised its Adoption Act and Child Protective Services Law to comply with federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The changes address the treatment under the law of parents who have committed child sexual abuse or engaged in sex trafficking. Specifically, these individuals are now identified as perpetrators of child abuse, and these acts are defined as child abuse and establish aggravated circumstances for a determination terminate parental rights.
heARTbeat is a publication of KingSpry’s Adoption Law and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.