HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4499

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 5, 2020.

The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3468) of RoseLee Vincent  relative to written consent by biological parents for certain adoptions, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4499) ought to pass.

For the committee,

KAY KHAN.

        FILED ON: 2/4/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4499

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act to enact Patricia and Francesca's Law relative to the family medical history of adopted children.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 210 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2 the following section:-

Section 2 ½. No biological parent may provide written consent for adoption required by section 2 unless said parent, to the best of their knowledge, provides an anonymous family medical history. Information about the biological parents will not identify or tend to lead to the identification of the biological parents or their present or former locations. The family medical history shall include, but not be limited to: (i) any known genetic predispositions and health conditions of said parent and (ii) any known genetic predispositions and health conditions of said parent’s relatives within 2 degrees of consanguinity.