(750 ILCS 50/18.1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1522.1)

Sec. 18.1. Disclosure of identifying information.

(a) The Department of Public Health shall establish and maintain a Registry for the purpose of allowing mutually consenting members of birth and adoptive families to exchange identifying and medical information. Identifying information for the purpose of this Act shall mean any one or more of the following:

(1) The name and last known address of the consenting person or persons.

(2) A copy of the Illinois Adoption Registry Application of the consenting person or persons.

(3) A non-certified copy of the original birth certificate of an adult adopted or surrendered person.

(b) Written authorization from all parties identified must be received prior to disclosure of any identifying information, with the exception of non-certified copies of original birth certificates released to adult adopted or surrendered persons or to surviving adult children and surviving spouses of deceased adopted or surrendered persons pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 18.1b(e).

(c) At any time after a child is surrendered for adoption, or at any time during the adoption proceedings or at any time thereafter, either birth parent or both of them may file with the Registry a Birth Parent Registration Identification Form.

(d) A birth sibling 21 years of age or over who was not surrendered for adoption and who has submitted a copy of his or her birth certificate as well as proof of death for a deceased birth parent and such birth parent did not file a Denial of Information Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference Form on which Option E was selected with the Registry prior to his or her death may file a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(e) A birth aunt or birth uncle who has submitted birth certificates for himself or herself and for a deceased birth parent naming at least one common biological parent as well as proof of death for the deceased birth parent and such birth parent did not file a Denial of Information Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference Form on which Option E was selected with the Registry prior to his or her death may file a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(e-5) A birth grandparent who has submitted birth certificates for himself or herself and for a deceased birth parent as well as proof of death for the deceased birth parent and the birth parent did not file a Denial of Information Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference Form on which Option E was selected with the Registry prior to his or her death may file a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(f) Any adopted person 21 years of age or over, any surrendered person 21 years of age or over, or any adoptive parent or legal guardian of an adopted or surrendered person under the age of 21 may file with the Registry a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(g) Any adult child or adult grandchild 21 years of age or over of a deceased adopted or surrendered person who has submitted a copy of his or her birth certificate naming an adopted or surrendered person as his or her biological parent as well as proof of death for the deceased adopted or surrendered person and such adopted or surrendered person did not file a Denial of Information Exchange with the Registry prior to his or her death may file a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(h) Any surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or surrendered person 21 years of age or over who has submitted proof of death for the deceased adopted or surrendered person and such adopted or surrendered person did not file a Denial of Information Exchange with the Registry prior to his or her death as well as a birth certificate naming themselves and the adopted or surrendered person as the parents of a minor child under the age of 21 may file a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(i) Any adoptive parent or legal guardian of a deceased adopted or surrendered person who is 21 years of age or over who has submitted proof of death as well as proof of parentage or guardianship for the deceased adopted or surrendered person and such adopted or surrendered person did not file a Denial of Information Exchange with the Registry prior to his or her death may file a Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.

(j) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the adopted or surrendered person or his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or surviving spouse, and to the birth parents identifying information only if both the adopted or surrendered person, or one of his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or his or her surviving spouse, and the birth parents have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange Authorization or a Birth Parent Preference Form on which Option A, B, or C was selected and the information at the Registry indicates that the consenting adopted or surrendered person, the child of the consenting adoptive parents or legal guardians, the parent of the consenting adult child of the adopted or surrendered person, or the deceased wife or husband of the consenting surviving spouse is the child of the consenting birth parents, except identifying information that appears on a non-certified copy of an original birth certificate may be provided to an adult adopted or surrendered person or to the surviving adult child, adult grandchild, or surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or surrendered person pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 18.1b(e) of this Act.

The Department of Public Health shall supply to adopted or surrendered persons who are birth siblings identifying information only if both siblings have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange Authorization and the information at the Registry indicates that the consenting siblings have one or both birth parents in common. Identifying information shall be supplied to consenting birth siblings who were adopted or surrendered if any such sibling is 21 years of age or over. Identifying information shall be supplied to consenting birth siblings who were not adopted or surrendered if any such sibling is 21 years of age or over and has proof of death of the common birth parent and such birth parent did not file a Denial of Information Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference Form on which Option E was selected with the Registry prior to his or her death.

(k) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the adopted or surrendered person or his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or surviving spouse, and to a birth aunt identifying information only if both the adopted or surrendered person or one of his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or his or her surviving spouse, and the birth aunt have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange Authorization and the information at the Registry indicates that the consenting adopted or surrendered person, or the child of the consenting adoptive parents or legal guardians, or the parent of the consenting adult child, or the deceased wife or husband of the consenting surviving spouse of the adopted or surrendered person is or was the child of the brother or sister of the consenting birth aunt.

(k-5) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the adopted or surrendered person and to a birth grandparent identifying information only if both the adopted or surrendered person and the birth grandparent have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange Authorization and the information at the Registry indicates that the consenting adopted or surrendered person is or was the child of a deceased birth mother or birth father.

(l) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the adopted or surrendered person or his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or surviving spouse, and to a birth uncle identifying information only if both the adopted or surrendered person or one of his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or his or her surviving spouse, and the birth uncle have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange Authorization and the information at the Registry indicates that the consenting adopted or surrendered person, or the child of the consenting adoptive parents or legal guardians, or the parent of the consenting adult child, or the deceased wife or husband of the consenting surviving spouse of the adopted or surrendered person is or was the child of the brother or sister of the consenting birth uncle.

(m) A registrant may notify the Registry of his or her desire not to have identifying information revealed or may revoke any previously filed Information Exchange Authorization by completing and filing with the Registry a Registry Identification Form along with a Denial of Information Exchange or, if applicable, a Birth Parent Preference Form. Any registrant, except a birth parent, may revoke his or her Denial of Information Exchange by filing an Information Exchange Authorization. A birth parent may revoke a Denial of Information Exchange by filing a Birth Parent Preference Form. Any birth parent who has previously filed a Birth Parent Preference Form where Option E was selected may revoke such preference by filing a subsequent Birth Parent Preference Form and selecting Option A, B, C, or D. The Department of Public Health shall act in accordance with the most recently filed affidavit.

(n) Identifying information ascertained from the Registry shall be confidential and may be disclosed only (1) upon a Court Order, which order shall name the person or persons entitled to the information, or (2) to a registrant who is the subject of an Information Exchange Authorization or, if applicable, a Birth Parent Preference Form that was completed by another registrant and filed with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange, or (3) as authorized under subsection (h) of Section 18.3 of this Act, or (4) pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 18.1b(e) of this Act. Any person who willfully provides unauthorized disclosure of any information filed with the Registry or who knowingly or intentionally files false information with the Registry shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be liable for damages.

(o) If information is disclosed pursuant to this Act, the Department shall redact it to remove any identifying information about any party who has not consented to the disclosure of such identifying information, or, in the case of identifying information on the original birth certificate, pursuant to Section 18.1b(e) of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-704, eff. 1-1-15; 99-345, eff. 1-1-16.)