Senate Bill 388 aims to enhance access to original impounded birth records for adoptees in Wisconsin. The bill allows any adoptee who is 18 years of age or older to request an uncertified copy of their original birth record, which has been impounded, without needing authorization from their birth parents. This change eliminates the previous requirement that access to these records could only be granted if a birth parent filed an affidavit permitting disclosure. The bill also mandates that the state registrar inform the requester about existing laws regarding access to information about their birth parents when issuing the uncertified copy.

In addition to expanding access, the bill includes several amendments and renumbering of existing statutes related to the management of birth records. It consolidates and amends provisions regarding the Department of Children and Families' responsibilities in providing information about birth parents and clarifies the circumstances under which access to impounded records can be granted. Notably, the bill maintains certain restrictions for adoptions involving Indian children, ensuring that specific legal protections remain in place. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline the process for adoptees to obtain their original birth records while providing necessary information about their birth parents.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.433(2), 48.433, 48.433(3)(a), 48.433(8)(a), 69.22(1)(b), 69.22