A JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the legislative research commission to study issues relating to adult ADOPTEEs' access to their ORIGINAL birth certificates.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study issues relating to adult adoptees having access to their original birth certificates.  In its study, the Commission may consider all of the following:
(1)	The laws of states that allow an adult adoptee access to the adoptee's original birth certificate.
(2)	The impact of contact preference forms in the states that allow adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates.
(3)	The actual number of sealed adoption records in North Carolina and the anticipated number of original birth certificates that would be requested if North Carolina provided access to original birth certificates.
(4)	Legal challenges in other states relating to confidentiality issues with respect to adoption.
(5)	The history of the sealed adoption records in North Carolina.
(6)	Abortion and adoption rate comparisons in states with access to original birth certificates.
(7)	Whether an adult adoptee should be 21 years of age to access his or her original birth certificate.
(8)	Whether the term "just cause" needs to be defined with respect to persons needing to petition the court system.
(9)	Whether siblings should be allowed in the confidential intermediary process.
(10)	Whether other family members should be allowed to act with the confidential intermediary if the birthmother is deceased.
(11)	Access to the birth information by persons adopted prior to the legal sealing of adoption records.
(12)	Any other issues the Commission considers relevant to this topic.
SECTION 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may make an interim report to the 2007 General Assembly, Regular Session 2008, and shall make its final report to the 2009 General Assembly.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.