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 unaltered birth record, which has previously been impounded. This change eliminates the requirement for an affidavit from birth parents to grant access, thereby streamlining the process for adoptees seeking information about their origins. 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 deletions to existing statutes. Notably, it repeals the provision that required birth parent authorization for access to impounded records and consolidates various sections related to the handling of birth records. The bill also introduces new language that clarifies the circumstances under which the state registrar may provide access to these records, ensuring that the rights of individuals involved in adoptions are respected while facilitating greater transparency for adoptees.

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