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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paul Schibbelhute Vice-President, American Adoption Congress 15 Seminole Dr Nashua, NH 03063 (603) 880-7790 pschibbe@aol.com 75 Days To Open Records in New Hampshire Nashua, N.H., October 18, 2004 The countdown continues for New Hampshire born, adult adoptees to obtain a copy of their Original Birth Certificate (OBC). Senate Bill 335 (SB335), which passed in the NH Senate and House this past legislative session, officially became law May 12, 2004. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2005. New Hampshire became only the fifth state in the U.S. to allow adult adoptees unfettered access to their original birth certificate along with Oregon, Alabama, Alaska and Kansas. Delaware and Tennessee also allow adult adoptee access but with some restrictions. As part of the 100-day celebration, legislators and key supporters of SB335 will participate in a number of activities that will bring awareness to the new law. To kick-off the celebration several events are planned for November 20th at the 24th Annual New Hampshire Adoption Conference, at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. In the morning a ceremony will be held at the conference to honor many of those who supported SB335. Senator Lou DגAllesandro, an adoptive parent and key sponsor of SB335, Deputy Speaker Mike Whalley, and Representative Janet Allen, an adoptee will present a workshop on SB335. Key supporters of SB335, Donna Chagnon, a birthmother, Steve Varnum, an adoptee and children's advocate and Paul Schibbelhute, a birthfather and Vice-President of the American Adoption Congress and ODS ACONE, will also participate in the workshop. William Bolton, Director of NH Vital Records Office will present a workshop on the implementation of SB335 in the Vital Records system. Although the details of the workshop have not been finalized, a preliminary list of issues to be discussed includes: 1) Office policies that have been developed since the passage of Senate Bill 335. 2) The latest versions of the contact preference forms to be used by triad members. 3) The process for the parties to make original birth record requests to the Division. 4) Office preparations in anticipation forth the law going into effect on January 1, 2005. 5) Questions and answers. On Sunday, January 2, 2005 a celebration is being planned by supporters of SB335 to welcome in the new law, which allows adult adoptees born in NH to access their OBC for the first time since 1973. For more information on this celebration contact Donna Chagnon. For future events to be held during the 100-day celebration contact Paul Schibbelhute at pschibbe@aol.com, Donna Chagnon at donnachagnon@netzero.net, or Steve Varnum at poppabear@tds.net. Contact ODS ACONE for more information on the NH Adoption Conference or for a brochure at 508-429-4260. For online information on the conference go to the ODS ACONE website at [url]http://www.odsacone.org/.[/url]
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