NYC Assemblyman David Weprin, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter Adoptee Rights Advocates Announce First Day of OBC Access for Adult Adoptees

USANEWSONLINE.COM DESK, ALBANY, NEW YORK – Assemblyman David I. Weprin, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, Assemblyman Robert Carroll & other elected officials joined several adult adopted individuals, birth parents & adoptee rights advocates to announce the first day of access for adult adoptees seeking a copy of their original birth certificate. Senator Montgomery and Assemblyman Weprin also presented pen certificates to several key advocates who were instrumental in the passage of the bill and colored in New York State on a national map to mark New York as the newest state to provide unrestricted access for original birth certificates.

The Clean Bill of Adoptee Rights, A5494 Weprin / S3419 Montgomery, was signed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on November 14, 2019. The legislation, which passed both houses of the legislature in 2019 after a decades long push by advocates and lawmakers, establishes the right of adoptees to receive a certified copy of their birth certificate upon reaching the age of 18.

“We had an amazing day today celebrating the enactment of the Adoptee Bill of Rights with Senator Velmenatte Montgomery, Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, Assemblyman Bobby Carroll & all of our supporters in Albany,” said Assemblyman David I. Weprin. I am so happy  that we were able to Get it Right and Make it Equal for New York’s Adult Adoptees and extend what is a basic human right, a right to know who you are, to people adopted in New York.”

“Today is a historic day for thousands of adoptees across our state. The Clean Bill of Adoptee Rights has officially taken effect after decades of advocacy. I would like to thank all the adoptees who have taken the time to share their stories with me,” said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. “I am proud to have sponsored this law in the Senate and thank all of my colleagues for their commitment to getting this done.”

“Tracing your family history shouldn’t be a privilege,” said Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter. “This new law provides a way to reunite adoptees with their relatives and obtain available health information. I’m proud to help right this historic wrong and ensure that future adoptees don’t have to experience the same struggle.” Press Release.