HF 1400

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to adoption; providing assistance to genetic siblings; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 259.83, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 259.83, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Genetic siblings. new text end

new text begin (a) A person who is at least 19 years old and adopted,
or who, because of a termination of parental rights, was committed to the guardianship
of the commissioner of human services, whether adopted or not, must upon request be
advised of other siblings who were adopted or who were committed to the guardianship
of the commissioner of human services and not adopted.
new text end

new text begin (b) Assistance must be provided by the county or placing agency of the person
requesting information to the extent that information is available in the existing records at
the Department of Human Services. If the sibling received services from another agency,
the agencies must share necessary information in order to locate the other siblings and to
offer services, as requested. Upon the determination that another sibling's parental rights
were terminated, identifying information and contact must be provided only upon mutual
consent. A reasonable fee may be imposed by the county or placing agency.
new text end