New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle said the Senate passed a bill enabling people who were adopted in New York but born in other states to participate in the New York State Adoption Registry. The bill (S.5145), passed on June 13,  gives adoptees born in other states the same ability to access information as eligible New York-born adoptees.

“The Adoption Registry can help a person learn more about their heritage, medical history and even potentially reunite with their birth family,” LaValle said.

If a person is born and adopted in New York, the state Health Department’s Adoption Registry can help them learn more about their birth families and, at times, facilitate reunions. Current law does not enable individuals who have been born in other states, but who’s adoptions were finalized in New York to have the same access to the records and other potentially releasable information. With this bill, all eligible New York-adopted individuals can participate in the registry.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.