Sec. 45a-751b. Disclosure of identifying information. Consent required.
Sec. 45a-751b. Disclosure of identifying information. Consent required. (a) If
parental rights were terminated on or after October 1, 1995, any information tending to
identify the adult adopted or adoptable person, a biological parent, including a person
claiming to be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for termination of
parental rights, or adult biological sibling shall not be disclosed unless written consent
is obtained from the person whose identity is being requested.
(b) If parental rights were terminated on or before September 30, 1995, (1) any
information tending to identify the biological parents, including a person claiming to
be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for the termination of parental
rights, shall not be disclosed unless written consent is obtained from each biological
parent who was party to such proceedings and (2) identifying information shall not be
disclosed to a biological parent, including a person claiming to be the father who was
not a party to the proceedings for termination of parental rights, without the written
consent of each biological parent who was a party to such proceedings and the consent
of the adult adopted or adoptable person whose identity is being requested.
(c) If the whereabouts of any person whose identity is being sought are unknown,
the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem pursuant to subsection (c) of section 45a-753.
(d) When the authorized applicant requesting identifying information has contact
with a biological sibling who is a minor, identifying information shall not be disclosed
unless consent is obtained from the adoptive parents or guardian or guardian ad litem
of the sibling.
(e) Any information tending to identify any adult relative other than a biological
parent shall not be disclosed unless written consent is obtained from such adult relative.
The consent of any biological parents common to the person making the request and
the person to be identified shall be required unless (1) the parental rights of such parents
have been terminated and not reinstated, guardianship has been removed and not reinstated or custody has been removed and not reinstated with respect to such adult relative
or (2) the adoption was finalized on or after June 12, 1984. No consent shall be required
if the person to be identified is deceased. If the person to be identified is deceased, the
information that may be released shall be limited as provided in subsection (e) of section
45a-753.
(f) Any adult person for whom there is only removal of custody or removal of
guardianship as specified in subsection (b) of section 45a-750 may apply in person or
in writing to the child-placing agency, the department, the court of probate or the superior
court which has the information. Such information shall be made available within sixty
days of receipt of such request unless the child-placing agency, department or court
notifies the person requesting the information that it cannot be made available within
sixty days and states the reason for the delay. If the person making such request is a
resident of this state and it appears that counseling is advisable with release of the
information, the child-placing agency or department may request that the person appear
for an interview. If the person making such request is not a resident of this state, and if
it appears that counseling is advisable with release of the information, the child-placing
agency, department or court may refer the person to an out-of-state agency or appropriate
governmental agency or department, approved by the department or accredited by the
Child Welfare League of America, the National Conference of Catholic Charities, the
Family Services Association of America or the Council on Accreditation of Services
of Families and Children. If an out-of-state referral is made, the information shall be
released to the out-of-state child-placing agency or department for release to the applicant, provided such information shall not be released unless the out-of-state child-placing agency or department is satisfied as to the identity of the person.
(P.A. 96-130, S. 31.)