(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement Monday on the agreement between the governor and the Legislature on a bill he has sponsored since 2006 to permit adoptees to access birth certificate and other related information:
“For too long we heard many heartfelt stories about the need for adoptees to access their birth records simply because they were facing a crisis and needed to know more about their family medical history. It was a long struggle, but today we finally move toward ending that unfairness with a compromise that serves as an example of how to get things done to help others.
“Many of us take for granted that we know our birth history and records, but adoptees have not been able to access this information through no fault of their own.
“This is a compassionate agreement that will help adoptees learn more about themselves while protecting the rights of the birth parents.
“I thank Gov. Christie and my fellow bill sponsors for their hard work. In the end, everyone’s rights are considered and adoptees will get the basic information they need to make informed decisions about their lives.
“I look forward to posting this bill for a vote in the coming weeks. It will be a great step forward for basic fairness in our state.”