103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1433

 

Introduced 2/7/2023, by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
750 ILCS 50/12.1
750 ILCS 50/18.1  from Ch. 40, par. 1522.1
750 ILCS 50/18.8

    Amends the Adoption Act. Removes language providing that: a person who knowingly or intentionally registers false information under the Putative Father Registry commits a Class B misdemeanor; a person who knowingly or intentionally releases confidential information in violation of a provision related to the Putative Father Registry commits a Class B misdemeanor; any person who willfully provides unauthorized disclosure of any information filed with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange or who knowingly or intentionally files false information with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; and the disclosure of identifying information in violation of the Act is a Class A misdemeanor.


LRB103 28857 LNS 55242 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1433LRB103 28857 LNS 55242 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Adoption Act is amended by changing
5Sections 12.1, 18.1, and 18.8 as follows:
 
6    (750 ILCS 50/12.1)
7    Sec. 12.1. Putative Father Registry. The Department of
8Children and Family Services shall establish a Putative Father
9Registry for the purpose of determining the identity and
10location of a putative father of a minor child who is, or is
11expected to be, the subject of an adoption proceeding, in
12order to provide notice of such proceeding to the putative
13father. The Department of Children and Family Services shall
14establish rules and informational material necessary to
15implement the provisions of this Section. The Department shall
16have the authority to set reasonable fees for the use of the
17Registry. All such fees for the use of the Registry that are
18received by the Department or its agent shall be deposited
19into the fund authorized under subsection (b) of Section 25 of
20the Children and Family Services Act. The Department shall use
21the moneys in that fund for the purpose of maintaining the
22Registry.
23    (a) The Department shall maintain the following

 

 

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1information in the Registry:
2        (1) With respect to the putative father:
3            (i) Name, including any other names by which the
4        putative father may be known and that he may provide to
5        the Registry;
6            (ii) Address at which he may be served with notice
7        of a petition under this Act, including any change of
8        address;
9            (iii) Social Security Number;
10            (iv) Date of birth; and
11            (v) If applicable, a certified copy of an order by
12        a court of this State or of another state or territory
13        of the United States adjudicating the putative father
14        to be the father of the child.
15        (2) With respect to the mother of the child:
16            (i) Name, including all other names known to the
17        putative father by which the mother may be known;
18            (ii) If known to the putative father, her last
19        address;
20            (iii) Social Security Number; and
21            (iv) Date of birth.
22        (3) If known to the putative father, the name, gender,
23    place of birth, and date of birth or anticipated date of
24    birth of the child.
25        (4) The date that the Department received the putative
26    father's registration.

 

 

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1        (5) Other information as the Department may by rule
2    determine necessary for the orderly administration of the
3    Registry.
4    (b) A putative father may register with the Department
5before the birth of the child but shall register no later than
630 days after the birth of the child. All registrations shall
7be in writing and signed by the putative father. No fee shall
8be charged for the initial registration. The Department shall
9have no independent obligation to gather the information to be
10maintained.
11    (c) An interested party, including persons intending to
12adopt a child, a child welfare agency with whom the mother has
13placed or has given written notice of her intention to place a
14child for adoption, the mother of the child, or an attorney
15representing an interested party may request that the
16Department search the Registry to determine whether a putative
17father is registered in relation to a child who is or may be
18the subject to an adoption petition.
19    (d) A search of the Registry may be proven by the
20production of a certified copy of the registration form, or by
21the certified statement of the administrator of the Registry
22that after a search, no registration of a putative father in
23relation to a child who is or may be the subject of an adoption
24petition could be located.
25    (e) Except as otherwise provided, information contained
26within the Registry is confidential and shall not be published

 

 

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1or open to public inspection.
2    (f) (Blank). A person who knowingly or intentionally
3registers false information under this Section commits a Class
4B misdemeanor. A person who knowingly or intentionally
5releases confidential information in violation of this Section
6commits a Class B misdemeanor.
7    (g) Except as provided in subsections (b) or (c) of
8Section 8 of this Act, a putative father who fails to register
9with the Putative Father Registry as provided in this Section
10is barred from thereafter bringing or maintaining any action
11to assert any interest in the child, unless he proves by clear
12and convincing evidence that:
13        (1) it was not possible for him to register within the
14    period of time specified in subsection (b) of this
15    Section; and
16        (2) his failure to register was through no fault of
17    his own; and
18        (3) he registered within 10 days after it became
19    possible for him to file.
20    A lack of knowledge of the pregnancy or birth is not an
21acceptable reason for failure to register.
22    (h) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section
238 of this Act, failure to timely register with the Putative
24Father Registry (i) shall be deemed to be a waiver and
25surrender of any right to notice of any hearing in any judicial
26proceeding for the adoption of the child, and the consent or

 

 

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1surrender of that person to the adoption of the child is not
2required, and (ii) shall constitute an abandonment of the
3child and shall be prima facie evidence of sufficient grounds
4to support termination of such father's parental rights under
5this Act.
6    (i) In any adoption proceeding pertaining to a child born
7out of wedlock, if there is no showing that a putative father
8has executed a consent or surrender or waived his rights
9regarding the proposed adoption, certification as specified in
10subsection (d) shall be filed with the court prior to entry of
11a final judgment order of adoption.
12    (j) The Registry shall not be used to notify a putative
13father who is the father of a child as a result of criminal
14sexual abuse or assault as defined under Article 11 of the
15Criminal Code of 2012.
16(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
17    (750 ILCS 50/18.1)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1522.1)
18    Sec. 18.1. Disclosure of identifying information.
19    (a) The Department of Public Health shall establish and
20maintain a Registry for the purpose of allowing mutually
21consenting members of birth and adoptive families to exchange
22identifying and medical information. Identifying information
23for the purpose of this Act shall mean any one or more of the
24following:
25        (1) The name and last known address of the consenting

 

 

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1    person or persons.
2        (2) A copy of the Illinois Adoption Registry
3    Application of the consenting person or persons.
4        (3) A non-certified copy of the original birth
5    certificate of an adult adopted or surrendered person.
6    (b) Written authorization from all parties identified must
7be received prior to disclosure of any identifying
8information, with the exception of non-certified copies of
9original birth certificates released to adult adopted or
10surrendered persons or to surviving adult children and
11surviving spouses of deceased adopted or surrendered persons
12pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 18.1b(e).
13    (c) At any time after a child is surrendered for adoption,
14or at any time during the adoption proceedings or at any time
15thereafter, either birth parent or both of them may file with
16the Registry a Birth Parent Registration Identification Form.
17    (d) A birth sibling 21 years of age or over who was not
18surrendered for adoption and who has submitted a copy of his or
19her birth certificate as well as proof of death for a deceased
20birth parent and such birth parent did not file a Denial of
21Information Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference Form on
22which Option E was selected with the Registry prior to his or
23her death may file a Registration Identification Form and an
24Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information
25Exchange.
26    (e) A birth aunt or birth uncle who has submitted birth

 

 

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1certificates for himself or herself and for a deceased birth
2parent naming at least one common biological parent as well as
3proof of death for the deceased birth parent and such birth
4parent did not file a Denial of Information Exchange or a Birth
5Parent Preference Form on which Option E was selected with the
6Registry prior to his or her death may file a Registration
7Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization
8or a Denial of Information Exchange.
9    (e-5) A birth grandparent who has submitted birth
10certificates for himself or herself and for a deceased birth
11parent as well as proof of death for the deceased birth parent
12and the birth parent did not file a Denial of Information
13Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference Form on which Option E
14was selected with the Registry prior to his or her death may
15file a Registration Identification Form and an Information
16Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information Exchange.
17    (f) Any adopted person 21 years of age or over, any
18surrendered person 21 years of age or over, or any adoptive
19parent or legal guardian of an adopted or surrendered person
20under the age of 21 may file with the Registry a Registration
21Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization
22or a Denial of Information Exchange.
23    (g) Any adult child or adult grandchild 21 years of age or
24over of a deceased adopted or surrendered person who has
25submitted a copy of his or her birth certificate naming an
26adopted or surrendered person as his or her biological parent

 

 

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1as well as proof of death for the deceased adopted or
2surrendered person and such adopted or surrendered person did
3not file a Denial of Information Exchange with the Registry
4prior to his or her death may file a Registration
5Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization
6or a Denial of Information Exchange.
7    (h) Any surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or
8surrendered person 21 years of age or over who has submitted
9proof of death for the deceased adopted or surrendered person
10and such adopted or surrendered person did not file a Denial of
11Information Exchange with the Registry prior to his or her
12death as well as a birth certificate naming themselves and the
13adopted or surrendered person as the parents of a minor child
14under the age of 21 may file a Registration Identification
15Form and an Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of
16Information Exchange.
17    (i) Any adoptive parent or legal guardian of a deceased
18adopted or surrendered person who is 21 years of age or over
19who has submitted proof of death as well as proof of parentage
20or guardianship for the deceased adopted or surrendered person
21and such adopted or surrendered person did not file a Denial of
22Information Exchange with the Registry prior to his or her
23death may file a Registration Identification Form and an
24Information Exchange Authorization or a Denial of Information
25Exchange.
26    (j) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the

 

 

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1adopted or surrendered person or his or her adoptive parents,
2legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or
3surviving spouse, and to the birth parents identifying
4information only if both the adopted or surrendered person, or
5one of his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult
6children, adult grandchildren, or his or her surviving spouse,
7and the birth parents have filed with the Registry an
8Information Exchange Authorization or a Birth Parent
9Preference Form on which Option A, B, or C was selected and the
10information at the Registry indicates that the consenting
11adopted or surrendered person, the child of the consenting
12adoptive parents or legal guardians, the parent of the
13consenting adult child of the adopted or surrendered person,
14or the deceased wife or husband of the consenting surviving
15spouse is the child of the consenting birth parents, except
16identifying information that appears on a non-certified copy
17of an original birth certificate may be provided to an adult
18adopted or surrendered person or to the surviving adult child,
19adult grandchild, or surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or
20surrendered person pursuant to the procedures outlined in
21Section 18.1b(e) of this Act.
22    The Department of Public Health shall supply to adopted or
23surrendered persons who are birth siblings identifying
24information only if both siblings have filed with the Registry
25an Information Exchange Authorization and the information at
26the Registry indicates that the consenting siblings have one

 

 

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1or both birth parents in common. Identifying information shall
2be supplied to consenting birth siblings who were adopted or
3surrendered if any such sibling is 21 years of age or over.
4Identifying information shall be supplied to consenting birth
5siblings who were not adopted or surrendered if any such
6sibling is 21 years of age or over and has proof of death of
7the common birth parent and such birth parent did not file a
8Denial of Information Exchange or a Birth Parent Preference
9Form on which Option E was selected with the Registry prior to
10his or her death.
11    (k) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the
12adopted or surrendered person or his or her adoptive parents,
13legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or
14surviving spouse, and to a birth aunt identifying information
15only if both the adopted or surrendered person or one of his or
16her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult
17grandchildren, or his or her surviving spouse, and the birth
18aunt have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange
19Authorization and the information at the Registry indicates
20that the consenting adopted or surrendered person, or the
21child of the consenting adoptive parents or legal guardians,
22or the parent of the consenting adult child, or the deceased
23wife or husband of the consenting surviving spouse of the
24adopted or surrendered person is or was the child of the
25brother or sister of the consenting birth aunt.
26    (k-5) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the

 

 

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1adopted or surrendered person and to a birth grandparent
2identifying information only if both the adopted or
3surrendered person and the birth grandparent have filed with
4the Registry an Information Exchange Authorization and the
5information at the Registry indicates that the consenting
6adopted or surrendered person is or was the child of a deceased
7birth mother or birth father.
8    (l) The Department of Public Health shall supply to the
9adopted or surrendered person or his or her adoptive parents,
10legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or
11surviving spouse, and to a birth uncle identifying information
12only if both the adopted or surrendered person or one of his or
13her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult
14grandchildren, or his or her surviving spouse, and the birth
15uncle have filed with the Registry an Information Exchange
16Authorization and the information at the Registry indicates
17that the consenting adopted or surrendered person, or the
18child of the consenting adoptive parents or legal guardians,
19or the parent of the consenting adult child, or the deceased
20wife or husband of the consenting surviving spouse of the
21adopted or surrendered person is or was the child of the
22brother or sister of the consenting birth uncle.
23    (m) A registrant may notify the Registry of his or her
24desire not to have identifying information revealed or may
25revoke any previously filed Information Exchange Authorization
26by completing and filing with the Registry a Registry

 

 

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1Identification Form along with a Denial of Information
2Exchange or, if applicable, a Birth Parent Preference Form.
3Any registrant, except a birth parent, may revoke his or her
4Denial of Information Exchange by filing an Information
5Exchange Authorization. A birth parent may revoke a Denial of
6Information Exchange by filing a Birth Parent Preference Form.
7Any birth parent who has previously filed a Birth Parent
8Preference Form where Option E was selected may revoke such
9preference by filing a subsequent Birth Parent Preference Form
10and selecting Option A, B, C, or D. The Department of Public
11Health shall act in accordance with the most recently filed
12affidavit.
13    (n) Identifying information ascertained from the Registry
14shall be confidential and may be disclosed only (1) upon a
15Court Order, which order shall name the person or persons
16entitled to the information, or (2) to a registrant who is the
17subject of an Information Exchange Authorization or, if
18applicable, a Birth Parent Preference Form that was completed
19by another registrant and filed with the Illinois Adoption
20Registry and Medical Information Exchange, or (3) as
21authorized under subsection (h) of Section 18.3 of this Act,
22or (4) pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 18.1b(e)
23of this Act. Any person who willfully provides unauthorized
24disclosure of any information filed with the Registry or who
25knowingly or intentionally files false information with the
26Registry shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be

 

 

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1liable for damages.
2    (o) If information is disclosed pursuant to this Act, the
3Department shall redact it to remove any identifying
4information about any party who has not consented to the
5disclosure of such identifying information, or, in the case of
6identifying information on the original birth certificate,
7pursuant to Section 18.1b(e) of this Act.
8(Source: P.A. 98-704, eff. 1-1-15; 99-345, eff. 1-1-16.)
 
9    (750 ILCS 50/18.8)
10    Sec. 18.8. Improper disclosure of identifying information.
11All information submitted to the Registry is confidential and
12gathered by the State solely for the purpose of facilitating
13the exchange of updated medical data and contact information
14between adopted and surrendered persons and other registered
15parties. Information exchanged through the Registry shall not
16be admissible as evidence nor discoverable in any action of
17any kind in any court or before any tribunal, board, agency, or
18commission. Disclosure of identifying information in violation
19of this Act is a Class A misdemeanor.
20(Source: P.A. 91-417, eff. 1-1-00.)