Some state lawmakers want to make it easier for adoptees in Louisiana to access their birth records. Today, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill that would give adoptees access to their birth certificate once they reach the age of 24.
Rep. Charles Owen (R-Rosepine), who’s adopted himself, said adopted children born in Louisiana are barred from seeing their original birth certificate unless they provide a judge with a compelling reason.
"Health-related, or verifying someone in the registry that Louisiana’s created, or inheritance," said Owen. "Wanting to know who you were, where you came from, the fact that it’s your document is not apparently a compelling reason."
The bill faces opposition from anti-abortion groups. Owen was questioned if other states who allow adoptees similar access have seen an increase in their abortion rate. Owen said he’s seen just the opposite in states similar to Louisiana.
“In every state that I have data on, Alabama especially, their rate of abortion decline is faster than ours over the period of that they’ve had this law in place,” said Owen.
Owens said Alabama has had a similar law for the last 22 years.
Rep. Bryan Fontenot (R-Thibodaux) said he thought a birth mother remained anonymous in adoption proceedings, but Owen said that’s a falsehood many believe. Fontenot said a mother should give consent if she wishes to later be contacted by the child.
“And if you are correct and that all of these end in happy endings then there will be no negative effect to get the mother’s approval,” said Fontenot.
“I don’t know that they all end in happy endings, but I know that grown people deserve the right to their documents,” said Owen.
Owen amended the bill to allow birth parents to submit a form indicating if they’d like to be contacted or not.
The bill passed on a 76 to 21 vote and now heads to the senate.
