750 ILCS 50/18.05

(750 ILCS 50/18.05)

Sec. 18.05. The Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange.

(a) General function. Subject to appropriation, the Department of Public Health shall administer the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange in the manner outlined in subsections (b) and (c) for the purpose of facilitating the voluntary exchange of identifying and medical information between mutually consenting members of birth and adoptive families. The Department shall establish rules for the confidential operation of the Illinois Adoption Registry. For the express purpose of informing the public in earnest about the conditions under which an adult adopted or surrendered person may receive a non-certified copy of his or her original birth certificate, and the procedures pursuant to which a birth parent may file a Birth Parent Preference Form to express his or her wishes with respect to contact with a surrendered son or daughter and the release of identifying information that appears on the original birth certificate provide notices enclosed with driver's license renewal applications issued by the Secretary of State's office through November 30, 2020.

The Illinois Adoption Registry shall also maintain an informational Internet site where interested parties may access information about the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange and download all necessary application forms. The Illinois Adoption Registry shall maintain statistical records regarding Registry participation and publish and circulate to the public informational material about the function and operation of the Registry.

(b) Establishment of the Adoption/Surrender Records File. When a person has voluntarily registered with the Illinois Adoption Registry and completed an Illinois Adoption Registry Application or a Registration Identification Form, the Registry shall establish a new Adoption/Surrender Records File. Such file may concern an adoption that was finalized by a court action in the State of Illinois, an adoption of a person born in Illinois finalized by a court action in a state other than Illinois or in a foreign country, a surrender taken in the State of Illinois, or an adoption filed according to Section 16.1 of the Vital Records Act under a Record of Foreign Birth that was not finalized by a court action in the State of Illinois. Such file may be established for adoptions or surrenders finalized prior to as well as after the effective date of this amendatory Act. A file may be created in any manner to preserve documents including but not limited to microfilm, optical imaging, or electronic documents.

(c) Contents of the Adoption/Surrender Records File. An established Adoption/Surrender Records File shall be limited to the following items, to the extent that they are available:

(1) The General Information Section and Medical Information Exchange Questionnaire of any Illinois Adoption Registry Application or a Registration Identification Form which has been voluntarily completed by any registered party.

(2) Any photographs voluntarily provided by any registrant for any other registered party at the time of registration or any time thereafter. All such photographs shall be submitted in an unsealed envelope no larger than 8 1/2" x 11", and shall not include identifying information pertaining to any person other than the registrant who submitted them. Any such identifying information shall be redacted by the Department or the information shall be returned for removal of identifying information.

(3) Any Information Exchange Authorization, Denial of Information Exchange, or Birth Parent Preference Form which has been filed by a registrant.

(4) For all adoptions finalized after January 1, 2000, copies of the original certificate of live birth and the certificate of adoption.

(5) Any updated address submitted by any registered party about himself or herself.

(6) Any proof of death that has been submitted by a registrant.

(7) Any birth certificate that has been submitted by a registrant.

(8) Any marriage certificate that has been submitted by a registrant.

(9) Any proof of guardianship that has been submitted by a registrant.

(10) Any Request for a Non-Certified Copy of an Original Birth Certificate that has been filed with the Registry by an adult adopted or surrendered person or by a surviving adult child or surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or surrendered person who has registered with the Registry.

(d) An established Adoption/Surrender Records File for an adoption filed in Illinois under a Record of Foreign Birth that was not finalized in a court action in the State of Illinois shall be limited to the following items submitted to the State Registrar of Vital Records under Section 16.1 of the Vital Records Act, to the extent that they are available:

(1) Evidence as to the child's birth date and birthplace (including the country of birth and, if available, the city and province of birth) provided by the original birth certificate, or by a certified copy, extract, or translation thereof or by other document essentially equivalent thereto (the records of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or of the U.S. Department of State to be considered essentially equivalent thereto).

(2) A certified copy, extract, or translation of the adoption decree or other document essentially equivalent thereto (the records of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or of the U.S. Department of State to be considered essentially equivalent thereto).

(3) A copy of the IR-3 or IH-3 visa.

(4) The name and address of the adoption agency that handled the adoption.

(Source: P.A. 97-445, eff. 8-19-11; 98-704, eff. 1-1-15.)