Existing law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order, as specified.

This bill would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate pursuant to the provisions above within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. If the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the bill would require the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order, or the applicant as the State Registrar deems necessary, within 14 weeks requesting the required documentation, and would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation. If the required documentation is not received within 90 calendar days after the court or applicant is notified, the bill would authorize the State Registrar to return the incomplete report of adoption or readoption order to the applicant for resubmission.

Existing law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order, as specified.

This bill would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate pursuant to the provisions above within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. If the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the bill would require the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order, or the applicant as the State Registrar deems necessary, within 14 weeks requesting the required documentation, and would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation. If the required documentation is not received within 90 calendar days after the court or applicant is notified, the bill would authorize the State Registrar to return the incomplete report of adoption or readoption order to the applicant for resubmission.

Existing law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order, as specified.

This bill would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate pursuant to the provisions above within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. If the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the bill would require the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order, or the applicant as the State Registrar deems necessary, within 14 weeks requesting the required documentation, and would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation. If the required documentation is not received within 90 calendar days after the court or applicant is notified, the bill would authorize the State Registrar to return the incomplete report of adoption or readoption order to the applicant for resubmission.

Existing law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order, as specified.

This bill would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate pursuant to the provisions above within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. If the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the bill would require the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order order, or the applicant as the State Registrar deems necessary, within 14 weeks requesting the required documentation, and would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation.

Existing law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order, as specified.

This bill would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate pursuant to the provisions above within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. If the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the bill would require the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order within 14 weeks requesting the required documentation, and would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation.

Existing law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order, as specified.

This bill would require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate pursuant to the provisions above within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order.

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS  

Bill No: SB 1186

Author: Seyarto (R), et al.

Amended: 8/13/26

Vote: 21

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 10-0, 4/15/26

AYES: Weber Pierson, Valladares, Caballero, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grove, Menjivar, Padilla, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Pérez

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/14/26

AYES: Cervantes, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

SENATE FLOOR: 33-0, 5/22/26

AYES: Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Ochoa Bogh, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Hurtado, Niello, Padilla, Stern

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0, 8/20/26 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Expedited birth certificates upon adoption

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill: (1) Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of either a report of adoption from any court of record for any child born in California or a readoption order; (2) Requires, if the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the State Registrar to notify the court or applicant within 14 weeks requesting the required documentation; (3) Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation; and, (4) Permits the State Registrar to return the incomplete report of adoption or readoption order to the applicant for resubmission if the required documentation is not received within 90 days after the court or applicant is notified.

Assembly Amendments

specify that the State Registrar may notify the court or the applicant, as deemed necessary, to request the required documentation if the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption is incomplete; and, permits the State Registrar to return the incomplete report of adoption or readoption order to the applicant for resubmission if the required documentation is not received within 90 days after the court or applicant is notified.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and sets forth its powers and duties, including duties as the State Registrar related to vital records and health statistics. [Health and Safety Code (HSC) §102100, et seq.]
2. Requires the certificate of live birth to include only the following information:
   1. Full name and sex of the child;
   2. Date of birth, including month, day, hour, and year;
   3. Place of birth;
   4. Full name, birthplace, and date of birth of each parent, including month, day, and year, and the parental relationship of the parent to the child;
   5. Multiple births and birth order of multiple births;
   6. Signature, and relationship to the child, of a parent or other informant, and date signed;
   7. Name, title, and mailing address of the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant, signature, and certification of live birth by the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant or certifier, date signed, and name and title of the certifier, if other than the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant;
   8. Date accepted for registration and signature of local registrar;
   9. A state birth certificate number and local registration district and number; and,
   10. A blank space for entry of the date of death with a caption reading “Date of Death”. [HSC §102425(a)]
3. Requires the clerk of the court to complete a report and forward the report to the State Registrar within five days after a decree of adoption has been entered declaring a child legally adopted. Requires the report to be forward within five days after an interlocutory decree of adoption becomes a final decree of adoption, and not earlier. [HSC §102625]
4. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of either:
   1. A report of adoption from any court of record that has jurisdiction of the child in this state, another state, the District of Columbia, in any territory of the U.S., or in any foreign country, for any child born in California and whose certificate of birth is on file in the office of the State Registrar; or
   2. A readoption order issued. [HSC §102635]
5. Prohibits, when requested by the adopting parent, the State Registrar from establishing a new certificate. [HSC §102640]
6. Requires the new birth certificate to bear the name of the child as shown in the report of the adoption, the names and ages of his or her adopting parents, the date and place of birth, and prohibits reference to be made in the new birth certificate to the adoption of the child. Requires the new certificate to be identical with a birth certificate registered for the birth of a child of natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, prohibits the new birth certificate from including the specific name and address of the hospital or other facility where the birth occurred, the color and race of the parents, or both. [HSC §102645]
7. Requires the new birth certificate to supplant any certificate previously registered, and requires it to be the only birth certificate open to public inspection. [HSC §102680]

This bill:

1. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of either a report of adoption from any court of record for any child born in California or a readoption order.
2. Requires, if the State Registrar determines that a report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order, or the applicant as the State Registrar deems necessary, within 14 weeks to request the missing required documentation.
3. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation following the notification to the court or applicant described in 2) above.
4. Permits the State Registrar to return the incomplete report or readoption order to the application for resubmission if the required documentation is not received within 90 calendar days following the notification to the court or applicant described in 2) above.

Background

According to the author of this bill:

When an adoption is finalized, families can wait close to a year for a new birth certificate that reflects their child’s legal name and new status. During this period, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or correctly claim their child on their taxes. These delays add stress at the very moment when a child needs stability and reassurance the most in their new home, while undermining the sense of belonging that a finalized adoption is meant to provide. This bill sets an eleven-week deadline for the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate after receiving an adoption report or readoption order, so that California’s adoptive families can move forward with accurate documentation and their children can fully integrate into their new families without unnecessary bureaucratic delay.

The State Registrar. CDPH’s Vital Records Registration Branch is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage events which occur in California, of which there are over one million each year. Certified copies of vital records are available from CDPH, 58 county recorders, and 61 local health jurisdictions. CDPH maintains, and can provide, birth and death records from 1905 to the present. For marriage records, CDPH maintains and can provide those from 1946 to the present, with some years excluded. CDPH uses the data collected through vital records for public health research and planning. Prior to 2000, CDPH created a replacement birth certificate by photocopying the public portion of the original record to amend registrant and parent information. The unaltered original certificate was sealed and archived. After 2000, birth certificates are altered electronically and original records are stored in an internal electronic system, on microfiche, or at the State Records Center. CDPH maintains all copies of original birth certificates. When a new birth certificate is created by CDPH, they send a “sealing notice” to the county of birth, instructing the county to replace the original certificate with the new certificate. Counties are instructed to confidentially destroy or delete all other records.

Amendment of records following an adoption. CDPH utilizes the Electronic Birth Registration-Amendment Request Portal to create a Court Report of Adoption form to amend a birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. The clerk of the California Superior Court granting the adoption is required to complete the Court Report of Adoption and send it to CDPH. The new birth certificate will be prepared by the vital records office in the child’s state of birth. If the adoptee was born in another state, CDPH will forward the Court Report of Adoption to the vital records office in the state of birth to prepare the new birth certificate. The information provided in the Court Report of Adoption is used to locate and seal the original birth record of the adopted child and to prepare the new birth certificate. The Report contains the child’s original birth name, sex, date and place of birth, physician’s or attendant’s name, and the natural parents’ names, as well as the child’s new name and information about the adoptive parents. When CDPH processes the adoption papers, they will prepare the new birth certificate and provide one certified copy of the new certificate at no cost, as it is included in the court fee paid at the time the adoption petition is filed. The adoptive parents do not have to request CDPH to prepare the new certificate unless they want additional copies, as the court clerks are required to do so. CDPH’s website states that the average time to process an amendment request is currently 7 to 9 weeks. The CDPH website states that processing times for incomplete requests vary. For incomplete requests, it takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the date received to issue a letter requesting the outstanding required documentation. According to the National Council for Adoption, in 2023, there were an estimated 10,597 children adopted in California.

Access to health care. Covered California states that, no matter the time of year, families have 60 days from the adoptee’s arrival or adoption date to enroll or update an existing plan for the entire family during this special enrollment period. A special enrollment period permits individuals to apply for a health insurance plan outside of open enrollment, or make changes to their current plan, if they have experienced a specified major life change, including adoption. For the first 30 days, the newborn child will be covered under the mother’s health insurance if applicable. One can apply for Medi-Cal through Covered California year-round. Depending on the household size and annual income, some family members may be eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, and others for a Covered California plan. Infants born to women already receiving Medi-Cal are automatically covered until their first birthday.

If the adoptive family already has health insurance through Covered California, they can easily update the family information to include the new adoptee through their Covered California account. Whether enrolling or changing their plan online, Covered California will ask the adoptive family to enter the date of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement. After submitting an application, the adoptive family may receive a notice to provide proof of this major life change, which will likely include official documents that show their name, their child’s name, and the date of their arrival or adoption. For example, they may need to provide a copy of any adoption records, foster care papers, or their birth certificate. Adoption from a foreign country may require a U.S. Department of Homeland Security immigration document as well.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 381 (Wahab, 2026) authorizes the disclosure of an original birth certificate to an adopted person, or descendant of a deceased adopted person, requires the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and establishes a process to request an original birth certificate. SB 381 also requires the State Registrar to remove the adopted parents’ exception that requires the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents. SB 381 was held on the Assembly Appropriations suspense file.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, CDPH estimates costs of approximately $1.16 million in fiscal year 2026-27 and ongoing to fund eight new staff positions and software licensing (Health Statistics Special Fund).

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/20/26)

Alliance for Children’s Rights

AspiraNet

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

California Association of Licensed Investigators

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/20/2026)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The Alliance for Children’s Rights writes that without access to the new birth certificate, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, obtain health care, secure identification, or arrange travel. Families are forced to navigate months of avoidable stress and uncertainty simply to access this critical document. This bill would establish a clear timeline to ensure families have timely access to services as they transition to permanency. AspiraNet adds that California has a legal responsibility to meet the needs of children and youth in foster care. When these children are adopted into permanent families, the state should ensure those families receive an updated birth certificate without unnecessary delay.

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0 8/20/26

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Chen, Jackson, Lee

Prepared by: Margarita Niemann / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

8/20/26 14:12:04

**** END ****

SENATE THIRD READING

STR Bill Id:SB 1186

Author:(Seyarto)

As Amended Ver:August 13, 2026

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Requires the State Registrar (SR) within the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. Requires, if the SR determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the SR to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order within 14 weeks to request the missing required documentation and requires the SR to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation. Authorizes the SR, if the required documentation is not received within 90 calendar days after the court or applicant is notified, to return the incomplete report of adoption or readoption order to the applicant for resubmission.

Major Provisions

COMMENTS

Adoption by the numbers in California. According to a report by the National Council for Adoption titled, "Adoption by the Numbers," in 2023, an estimated 10,597 children were adopted in California. This increased 11.23% from the previous year. In 2023, adoptions from foster care made up 59.5% of total adoptions, while private domestic adoptions made up 39.42%, and intercountry adoptions made up 1.09%. The total number of adoptions from foster care was 6,305, which increased 1.14% from the previous year. The total number of private domestic adoptions was 4,177, which increased 32.23% from the previous year. Lastly, the total number of intercountry adoptions was 115, which decreased 14.18% from the previous year.

DPH Vital Records. DPH registers adoptions for individuals born in California, regardless of where the individual was adopted, and individuals adopted in California who were born outside the U.S., territories of the U.S., or Canada. DPH's Vital Records Registration Branch is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage vital events which occur in California, of which there are over one million each year. Certified copies of vital records are available from DPH, 58 county recorders, and 61 local health jurisdictions. DPH maintains, and can provide, birth and death records from 1905 to the present. For marriage records, DPH maintains and can provide those from 1946 to the present, with some years excluded. DPH uses the data collected through vital records for public health research and planning.

Adoptee birth certificates. Under existing law, the SR is required to issue a new birth certificate upon receiving either a court report of adoption or a readoption order, unless otherwise requested by the adopting parents. When a new birth certificate is established by DPH, they send a "sealing notice" to the county of birth, instructing the county to replace the original certificate with the new certificate. Counties are instructed to confidentially destroy or delete all other records. DPH utilizes the Electronic Birth Registration-Amendment Request Portal for adoptive families to complete a Court Report of Adoption form to amend a birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. The amendment request package must be printed, certified by the court, and submitted to DPH.

State law does not specify a timeframe for the SR to establish a new birth certificate after adoption or readoption. According to information provided by the author, some families report waiting 49–52 weeks for an updated birth certificate, long after the court has finalized the adoption. During this gap, parents may be unable to enroll children in school, secure medical care, obtain passports or other identification, or claim the child correctly for tax purposes.

According to DPH's website, the average time to process an amendment to a vital record is 9 to 11 weeks. Processing times for incomplete requests vary. If a request is incomplete, DPH sends a letter requesting the outstanding required documentation. Once the required documents are received, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for the request to be completed and mailed out.

According to the Author

When an adoption is finalized, families can wait close to a year for a new birth certificate that reflects their child’s legal name and new status. The author continues that during this period, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or correctly claim their child on their taxes. The author further states that these delays add stress at the very moment when a child needs stability and reassurance the most in their new home, while undermining the sense of belonging that a finalized adoption is meant to provide. The author continues that this bill sets an 11-week deadline for the SR to issue a new birth certificate after receiving an adoption report or readoption order, so that California’s adoptive families can move forward with accurate documentation and their children can fully integrate into their new families without unnecessary bureaucratic delay.

Arguments in Support

The Alliance for Children's Rights (ACR) writes in support of this bill, stating that finalizing an adoption is a profound milestone that gives a child the permanence, stability, and sense of belonging they deserve. ACR continues that many adoptive families encounter unexpected delays when seeking an updated birth certificate for their newly adopted child, undermining what should be a seamless transition into family life. ACR states that after the adoption is legally finalized, the SR issues a new birth certificate for the child. ACR contends that California law does not specify how quickly this must occur, leading to inconsistent processing times across the state. ACR notes that without timely access to this essential document, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, obtain health care, secure identification, or arrange travel. ACR continues that families are forced to navigate months of avoidable stress and uncertainty simply to access this critical document. ACR concludes that establishing clear timelines for birth certificate issuance under this bill ensures families have timely access to services as they transition to permanency.

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, DPH estimates costs of approximately $1.16 million in fiscal year 2026-27 and ongoing to fund eight new staff positions and software licensing (Health Statistics Special Fund).

VOTES

SENATE FLOOR: 33-0-7

YES: Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Ochoa Bogh, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ABS, ABST OR NV: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Hurtado, Niello, Padilla, Stern

ASM HEALTH: 15-0-1

YES: Bonta, Sanchez, Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Caloza, Carrillo, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Patel, Patterson, Celeste Rodriguez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Stefani

ABS, ABST OR NV: Johnson

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-4

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Pacheco, Pellerin, Sharp-Collins, Solache

ABS, ABST OR NV: Hoover, Dixon, Ta, Tangipa

UPDATED

VERSION: August 13, 2026

CONSULTANT: Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0003611

Date of Hearing: August 5, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1186

Author:(Seyarto) – As Amended Ver:June 25, 2026

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. If the State Registrar finds that inadequate documentation was provided, this bill requires the State Registrar inform the court or the applicant within 14 weeks to request the missing documentation and issue a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receiving the proper documents.

FISCAL EFFECT:

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) estimates costs of approximately $1.16 million in fiscal year 2026-27 and ongoing to fund eight new staff positions and software licensing (Health Statistics Special Fund).

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author:

When an adoption is finalized, families can wait close to a year for a new birth certificate that reflects their child’s legal name and new status. During this period, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or correctly claim their child on their taxes. These delays add stress at the very moment when a child needs stability and reassurance the most in their new home, while undermining the sense of belonging that a finalized adoption is meant to provide. [This bill] sets an eleven‑week deadline for the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate after receiving an adoption report or readoption order, so that California’s adoptive families can move forward with accurate documentation and their children can fully integrate into their new families without unnecessary bureaucratic delay.

1. Background. According to a report by the National Council for Adoption, in 2023, an estimated 10,597 children were adopted in California.

CDPH’s Vital Records Registration Branch is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage vital events that occur in California. CDPH registers adoptions for adoptees born in California, regardless of where they were adopted, and individuals who were adopted in California and born outside the U.S., U.S. territories, or Canada. Under existing law, the State Registrar must issue a new birth certificate upon receiving either a court report of adoption or a readoption order, unless otherwise requested by the adopting parents. Existing law does not specify a timeframe for the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate after adoption or readoption. According to information provided by the author, some families report waiting 49 to 52 weeks for an updated birth certificate. According to CDPH’s website, the average time to process an amendment to a vital record is nine to 11 weeks. This bill requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receiving either a report of adoption or a readoption order for children born in California.

1. Related Legislation. SB 381 (Wahab) requires the State Registrar to provide to an adult adoptee born in California, or to an adult descendant of a deceased adopted person, a copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate upon request, and requires the State Registrar to develop and make available a contact preference form for birth parents. SB 381 is pending in this committee.

Analysis Prepared by: Allegra Kim / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: June 23, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Mia Bonta, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1186

Author:(Seyarto) – As Amended Ver:April 20, 2026

SENATE VOTE: 33-0

SUBJECT: Expedited birth certificates upon adoption.

SUMMARY: Requires the State Registrar (SR) to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of a report of adoption or a readoption order. Requires, if the SR determines that the report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the SR to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order within 14 weeks to request the missing required documentation and requires the SR to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the State Department of Public Health (DPH), and sets forth its powers and duties, including duties as the SR related to vital records and health statistics. [Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 102100, et seq.]
2. Requires the certificate of live birth to include only the following information:
   1. Full name and sex of the child;
   2. Date of birth, including month, day, hour, and year;
   3. Place of birth;
   4. Full name, birthplace, and date of birth of each parent, including month, day, and year, and the parental relationship of the parent to the child;
   5. Multiple births and birth order of multiple births;
   6. Signature, and relationship to the child, of a parent or other informant, and date signed;
   7. Name, title, and mailing address of the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant, signature, and certification of live birth by the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant or certifier, date signed, and name and title of the certifier, if other than the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant;
   8. Date accepted for registration and signature of local registrar;
   9. A state birth certificate number and local registration district and number; and,
   10. A blank space for entry of the date of death with a caption reading “Date of Death.” [HSC § 102425(a)]
3. Requires the clerk of the court to complete a report and forward the report to the SR within five days after a decree of adoption has been entered declaring a child legally adopted. Requires the report to be forward within five days after an interlocutory decree of adoption becomes a final decree of adoption, and not earlier. [HSC § 102625]
4. Requires the SR to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of either:
   1. A report of adoption from any court of record that has jurisdiction of the child in this state, another state, the District of Columbia, in any territory of the United States (U.S.), or in any foreign country, for any child born in California and whose certificate of birth is on file in the office of the SR; or
   2. A readoption order issued pursuant to 8) of Existing Law below. [HSC § 102635]
5. Prohibits, when requested by the adopting parent, the SR from establishing a new birth certificate. [HSC § 102640]
6. Requires the new birth certificate to bear the name of the child as shown in the report of the adoption, the names and ages of his or her adopting parents, the date and place of birth, and prohibits reference to be made in the new birth certificate to the adoption of the child. Requires the new certificate to be identical with a birth certificate registered for the birth of a child of natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, prohibits the new birth certificate from including the specific name and address of the hospital or other facility where the birth occurred, the color and race of the parents, or both. [HSC § 102645]
7. Requires the new birth certificate to supplant any certificate previously registered, and requires it to be the only birth certificate open to public inspection. [HSC § 102680]
8. Requires a state resident who has finalized an intercountry adoption in a foreign country to file the petition to readopt within the earlier of 60 days of the adoptee’s entry into the U.S. or the adoptee’s 16th birthday in order to establish a record by which an adoptee can prove the facts of the foreign adoption. Requires the clerk of the court to submit to the SR the order granting the petition to readopt. Requires the SR issue a delayed registration of birth that lists the adoptive parent or parents as the child’s legal parent or parents. [Family Code § 8919]

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, unknown ongoing General Fund costs, potentially tens of thousands, for DPH to comply with the timelines.

COMMENTS:

1. PURPOSE OF THIS BILL. According to the author, when an adoption is finalized, families can wait close to a year for a new birth certificate that reflects their child’s legal name and new status. The author continues that during this period, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or correctly claim their child on their taxes. The author further states that these delays add stress at the very moment when a child needs stability and reassurance the most in their new home, while undermining the sense of belonging that a finalized adoption is meant to provide. The author continues that this bill sets an 11-week deadline for the SR to issue a new birth certificate after receiving an adoption report or readoption order, so that California’s adoptive families can move forward with accurate documentation and their children can fully integrate into their new families without unnecessary bureaucratic delay.
2. BACKGROUND.
   1. Adoption by the numbers in California. According to a report by the National Council for Adoption titled, “Adoption by the Numbers,” in 2023, an estimated 10,597 children were adopted in California. This increased 11.23% from the previous year. In 2023, adoptions from foster care made up 59.5% of total adoptions, while private domestic adoptions made up 39.42%, and intercountry adoptions made up 1.09%. The total number of adoptions from foster care was 6,305, which increased 1.14% from the previous year. The total number of private domestic adoptions was 4,177, which increased 32.23% from the previous year. Lastly, the total number of intercountry adoptions was 115, which decreased 14.18% from the previous year.
   2. DPH Vital Records. DPH registers adoptions for individuals born in California, regardless of where the individual was adopted, and individuals adopted in California who were born outside the U.S., territories of the U.S., or Canada. DPH’s Vital Records Registration Branch is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage vital events which occur in California, of which there are over one million each year. Certified copies of vital records are available from DPH, 58 county recorders, and 61 local health jurisdictions. DPH maintains, and can provide, birth and death records from 1905 to the present. For marriage records, DPH maintains and can provide those from 1946 to the present, with some years excluded. DPH uses the data collected through vital records for public health research and planning.
   3. Adoptee birth certificates. Under existing law, the SR is required to issue a new birth certificate upon receiving either a court report of adoption or a readoption order, unless otherwise requested by the adopting parents.

When a new birth certificate is established by DPH, they send a “sealing notice” to the county of birth, instructing the county to replace the original certificate with the new certificate. Counties are instructed to confidentially destroy or delete all other records. DPH utilizes the Electronic Birth Registration-Amendment Request Portal for adoptive families to complete a Court Report of Adoption form to amend a birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. The amendment request package must be printed, certified by the court, and submitted to DPH.

State law does not specify a timeframe for the SR to establish a new birth certificate after adoption or readoption. According to information provided by the author, some families report waiting 49–52 weeks for an updated birth certificate, long after the court has finalized the adoption. During this gap, parents may be unable to enroll children in school, secure medical care, obtain passports or other identification, or claim the child correctly for tax purposes.

According to DPH’s website, the average time to process an amendment to a vital record is 9 to 11 weeks. Processing times for incomplete requests vary. If a request is incomplete, DPH sends a letter requesting the outstanding required documentation. Once the required documents are received, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for the request to be completed and mailed out.

This bill requires the SR to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receiving either a report of adoption or a readoption order, for children born in California. Further, if the SR determines that a report of adoption or readoption order is complete, this bill requires the SR to notify the court that issued the report or order to request missing required documentation within 14 weeks. This bill requires the SR to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation.

1. SUPPORT. The Alliance for Children’s Rights (ACR) writes in support of this bill, stating that finalizing an adoption is a profound milestone that gives a child the permanence, stability, and sense of belonging they deserve. ACR continues that many adoptive families encounter unexpected delays when seeking an updated birth certificate for their newly adopted child, undermining what should be a seamless transition into family life. ACR states that after the adoption is legally finalized, the SR issues a new birth certificate for the child. ACR contends that California law does not specify how quickly this must occur, leading to inconsistent processing times across the state. ACR notes that without timely access to this essential document, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, obtain health care, secure identification, or arrange travel. ACR continues that families are forced to navigate months of avoidable stress and uncertainty simply to access this critical document. ACR concludes that establishing clear timelines for birth certificate issuance under this bill ensures families have timely access to services as they transition to permanency.
2. RELATED LEGISLATION. SB 381 (Wahab) would permit an adopted person aged 18 years or older, or, if the adopted person is deceased, their descendant, to obtain their original birth certificate upon request, beginning on July 1, 2028; would require the SR to establish and publicize the availability of a nonbinding contact preference form, which birth parents may submit to indicate whether they wish to be contacted when an original birth certificate is released; and would delete certain categories of information which currently may be omitted from a new birth certificate established after a child is adopted. SB 381 is pending a hearing in the Assembly Health Committee.
3. PREVIOUS LEGISLATION. AB 1332 (Evans) of 2007, among other provisions, would have required the SR to establish procedures for the issuance of an expedited amended birth certificate within 30 days following an adoption, and would have authorized a fee to be charged for the issuance of that certificate. AB 1332 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.
4. AMENDMENTS. According to information provided by DPH, the SR generally works directly with the applicant for a new birth certificate, not the court. Requiring the SR to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order to request the missing documentation could result in delays. The Committee may wish to amend this bill to require the SR to notify the court or applicant as the SR deems necessary to request the missing required documentation.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Alliance for Children's Rights
Aspiranet

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Eliza Brooks / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 1186

Author: Seyarto (R), et al.

Amended: 4/20/26

Vote: 21

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 10-0, 4/15/26

AYES: Weber Pierson, Valladares, Caballero, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grove, Menjivar, Padilla, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Pérez

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/14/26

AYES: Cervantes, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

SUBJECT: Expedited birth certificates upon adoption

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of either a report of adoption from any court of record for any child born in California or a readoption order.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and sets forth its powers and duties, including duties as the State Registrar related to vital records and health statistics. [Health and Safety Code (HSC) §102100, et seq.]
2. Requires the certificate of live birth to include only the following information:
   1. Full name and sex of the child;
   2. Date of birth, including month, day, hour, and year;
   3. Place of birth;
   4. Full name, birthplace, and date of birth of each parent, including month, day, and year, and the parental relationship of the parent to the child;
   5. Multiple births and birth order of multiple births;
   6. Signature, and relationship to the child, of a parent or other informant, and date signed;
   7. Name, title, and mailing address of the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant, signature, and certification of live birth by the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant or certifier, date signed, and name and title of the certifier, if other than the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant;
   8. Date accepted for registration and signature of local registrar;
   9. A state birth certificate number and local registration district and number; and,
   10. A blank space for entry of the date of death with a caption reading “Date of Death”. [HSC §102425(a)]
3. Requires the clerk of the court to complete a report and forward the report to the State Registrar within five days after a decree of adoption has been entered declaring a child legally adopted. Requires the report to be forward within five days after an interlocutory decree of adoption becomes a final decree of adoption, and not earlier. [HSC §102625]
4. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of either:
   1. A report of adoption from any court of record that has jurisdiction of the child in this state, another state, the District of Columbia, in any territory of the U.S., or in any foreign country, for any child born in California and whose certificate of birth is on file in the office of the State Registrar; or
   2. A readoption order issued. [HSC §102635]
5. Prohibits, when requested by the adopting parent, the State Registrar from establishing a new certificate. [HSC §102640]
6. Requires the new birth certificate to bear the name of the child as shown in the report of the adoption, the names and ages of his or her adopting parents, the date and place of birth, and prohibits reference to be made in the new birth certificate to the adoption of the child. Requires the new certificate to be identical with a birth certificate registered for the birth of a child of natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, prohibits the new birth certificate from including the specific name and address of the hospital or other facility where the birth occurred, the color and race of the parents, or both. [HSC §102645]
7. Requires the new birth certificate to supplant any certificate previously registered, and requires it to be the only birth certificate open to public inspection. [HSC §102680]

This bill:

1. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of either a report of adoption from any court of record for any child born in California or a readoption order.
2. Requires, if the State Registrar determines that a report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the State Registrar to notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order within 14 weeks to request the missing required documentation.
3. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation following their request described in 2) above.

Comments

According to the author of this bill:

When an adoption is finalized, families can wait close to a year for a new birth certificate that reflects their child’s legal name and new status. During this period, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or correctly claim their child on their taxes. These delays add stress at the very moment when a child needs stability and reassurance the most in their new home, while undermining the sense of belonging that a finalized adoption is meant to provide. This bill sets an eleven-week deadline for the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate after receiving an adoption report or readoption order, so that California’s adoptive families can move forward with accurate documentation and their children can fully integrate into their new families without unnecessary bureaucratic delay.

Background

The State Registrar. CDPH’s Vital Records Registration Branch is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage events which occur in California, of which there are over one million each year. Certified copies of vital records are available from CDPH, 58 county recorders, and 61 local health jurisdictions. CDPH maintains, and can provide, birth and death records from 1905 to the present. For marriage records, CDPH maintains and can provide those from 1946 to the present, with some years excluded. CDPH uses the data collected through vital records for public health research and planning. Prior to 2000, CDPH created a replacement birth certificate by photocopying the public portion of the original record to amend registrant and parent information. The unaltered original certificate was sealed and archived. After 2000, birth certificates are altered electronically and original records are stored in an internal electronic system, on microfiche, or at the State Records Center. CDPH maintains all copies of original birth certificates. When a new birth certificate is created by CDPH, they send a “sealing notice” to the county of birth, instructing the county to replace the original certificate with the new certificate. Counties are instructed to confidentially destroy or delete all other records.

Amendment of records following an adoption. CDPH utilizes the Electronic Birth Registration-Amendment Request Portal to create a Court Report of Adoption form to amend a birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. The clerk of the California Superior Court granting the adoption is required to complete the Court Report of Adoption and send it to CDPH. The new birth certificate will be prepared by the vital records office in the child’s state of birth. If the adoptee was born in another state, CDPH will forward the Court Report of Adoption to the vital records office in the state of birth to prepare the new birth certificate. The information provided in the Court Report of Adoption is used to locate and seal the original birth record of the adopted child and to prepare the new birth certificate. The Report contains the child’s original birth name, sex, date and place of birth, physician’s or attendant’s name, and the natural parents’ names, as well as the child’s new name and information about the adoptive parents. When CDPH processes the adoption papers, they will prepare the new birth certificate and provide one certified copy of the new certificate at no cost, as it is included in the court fee paid at the time the adoption petition is filed. The adoptive parents do not have to request CDPH to prepare the new certificate unless they want additional copies, as the court clerks are required to do so. CDPH’s website states that the average time to process an amendment request is currently 9 to 11 weeks. For incomplete requests, it takes approximately 12 to 14 weeks from the date received to issue a letter requesting the outstanding required documentation. Once the required documents are received, it takes an additional 8 to 10 weeks for a request to be completed and mailed from their office. According to the National Council for Adoption, in 2023, there were an estimated 10,597 children adopted in California.

Access to health care. Covered California states that, no matter the time of year, families have 60 days from the adoptee’s arrival or adoption date to enroll or update an existing plan for the entire family during this special enrollment period. A special enrollment period permits individuals to apply for a health insurance plan outside of open enrollment, or make changes to their current plan, if they have experienced a specified major life change, including adoption. For the first 30 days, the newborn child will be covered under the mother’s health insurance if applicable. One can apply for Medi-Cal through Covered California year-round. Depending on the household size and annual income, some family members may be eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, and others for a Covered California plan. Infants born to women already receiving Medi-Cal are automatically covered until their first birthday.

If the adoptive family already has health insurance through Covered California, they can easily update the family information to include the new adoptee through their Covered California account. Whether enrolling or changing their plan online, Covered California will ask the adoptive family to enter the date of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement. After submitting an application, the adoptive family may receive a notice to provide proof of this major life change, which will likely include official documents that show their name, their child’s name, and the date of their arrival or adoption. For example, they may need to provide a copy of any adoption records, foster care papers, or their birth certificate. Adoption from a foreign country may require a U.S. Department of Homeland Security immigration document as well.

Related/Prior Legislation

Related legislation. SB 381 (Wahab, 2026) authorizes the disclosure of an original birth certificate to an adopted person, or descendant of a deceased adopted person, requires the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and establishes a process to request an original birth certificate. SB 381 also requires the State Registrar to remove the adopted parents’ exception that requires the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents. SB 381 is pending in the Assembly.

Prior legislation. AB 1332 (Evans) of 2007, among other provisions, would have required the State Registrar to establish procedures for the issuance of an expedited amended birth certificate within 30 days following an adoption, and would have authorized a fee to be charged for the issuance of that certificate. AB 1332 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, unknown ongoing General Fund costs, potentially tens of thousands, for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to comply with the timelines.

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/14/2026)

Alliance for Children’s Rights

AspiraNet

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/14/2026)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The Alliance for Children’s Rights writes that without access to the new birth certificate, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, obtain health care, secure identification, or arrange travel. Families are forced to navigate months of avoidable stress and uncertainty simply to access this critical document. This bill would establish a clear timeline to ensure families have timely access to services as they transition to permanency. AspiraNet adds that California has a legal responsibility to meet the needs of children and youth in foster care. When these children are adopted into permanent families, the state should ensure those families receive an updated birth certificate without unnecessary delay.

Prepared by: Margarita Niemann / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

5/14/26 16:53:07

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 1186 (Seyarto) - Expedited birth certificates upon adoption

Bill Summary:

SB 1186 would impose timelines for the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate, following a report of adoption or readoption order.

Fiscal Impact:

Unknown ongoing General Fund costs, potentially tens of thousands, for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to comply with the timelines.

Background:

The CDPH, which serves as the State Registrar, is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage events which occur in California. Certified copies of vital records are available from the CDPH, 58 county recorders, and 61 local health jurisdictions.

State law requires a new birth certificate to be established by the State Registrar upon receipt of either of the following:

• A report of adoption from any court of record that has jurisdiction of the child in this state, another state, the District of Columbia, in any territory of the United States, or in any foreign country, for any child born in California and whose certificate of birth is on file in the office of the State Registrar.
• A readoption order, pursuant to existing state law.

Proposed Law:

Specific provisions of the bill would:

• Impose a timeline for the State Registrar to establish, within 11 weeks, a new birth certificate as required in existing law following a report of adoption or readoption order.
• Require that, if the State Registrar determines that a report of adoption or readoption order is incomplete, the State Registrar must notify the court that issued the report of adoption or readoption order within 14 weeks to request the missing required documentation; and require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation.

Related Legislation:

SB 381 (Wahab, 2025) would establish a process to provide to an adopted person, or descendant of a deceased adopted person, a copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate. The bill is currently in the Assembly.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson, Chair

BILL NO: SB 1186

SUBJECT: Expedited birth certificates upon adoption

SUMMARY:

Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of either a report of adoption from any court of record for any child born in California or a readoption order.

Existing law:

1. Establishes the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and sets forth its powers and duties, including duties as the State Registrar related to vital records and health statistics. [HSC §102100, et seq.]
2. Requires the certificate of live birth to include only the following information:
   1. Full name and sex of the child;
   2. Date of birth, including month, day, hour, and year;
   3. Place of birth;
   4. Full name, birthplace, and date of birth of each parent, including month, day, and year, and the parental relationship of the parent to the child;
   5. Multiple births and birth order of multiple births;
   6. Signature, and relationship to the child, of a parent or other informant, and date signed;
   7. Name, title, and mailing address of the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant, signature, and certification of live birth by the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant or certifier, date signed, and name and title of the certifier, if other than the attending physician and surgeon or principal attendant;
   8. Date accepted for registration and signature of local registrar;
   9. A state birth certificate number and local registration district and number; and,
   10. A blank space for entry of the date of death with a caption reading “Date of Death”. [HSC §102425(a)]
3. Requires the clerk of the court to complete a report and forward the report to the State Registrar within five days after a decree of adoption has been entered declaring a child legally adopted. Requires the report to be forward within five days after an interlocutory decree of adoption becomes a final decree of adoption, and not earlier. [HSC §102625]
4. Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate upon receipt of either:
   1. A report of adoption from any court of record that has jurisdiction of the child in this state, another state, the District of Columbia, in any territory of the U.S., or in any foreign country, for any child born in California and whose certificate of birth is on file in the office of the State Registrar; or
   2. A readoption order issued. [HSC §102635]
5. Prohibits, when requested by the adopting parent, the State Registrar from establishing a new certificate. [HSC §102640]
6. Requires the new birth certificate to bear the name of the child as shown in the report of the adoption, the names and ages of his or her adopting parents, the date and place of birth, and prohibits reference to be made in the new birth certificate to the adoption of the child. Requires the new certificate to be identical with a birth certificate registered for the birth of a child of natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, prohibits the new birth certificate from including the specific name and address of the hospital or other facility where the birth occurred, the color and race of the parents, or both. [HSC §102645]
7. Requires the new birth certificate to supplant any certificate previously registered, and requires it to be the only birth certificate open to public inspection. [HSC §102680]

This bill: Requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of either a report of adoption from any court of record for any child born in California or a readoption order.

FISCAL EFFECT:

This bill has not yet been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

1. Author’s statement. According to the author, when an adoption is finalized, families can wait close to a year for a new birth certificate that reflects their child’s legal name and new status. During this period, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or correctly claim their child on their taxes. These delays add stress at the very moment when a child needs stability and reassurance the most in their new home, while undermining the sense of belonging that a finalized adoption is meant to provide. This bill sets an eleven-week deadline for the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate after receiving an adoption report or readoption order, so that California’s adoptive families can move forward with accurate documentation and their children can fully integrate into their new families without unnecessary bureaucratic delay.
2. The State Registrar. CDPH’s Vital Records Registration Branch is charged with maintaining a uniform, comprehensive, and continuous index for all birth, death, fetal death, and marriage events which occur in California, of which there are over one million each year. Certified copies of vital records are available from CDPH, 58 county recorders, and 61 local health jurisdictions. CDPH maintains, and can provide, birth and death records from 1905 to the present. For marriage records, CDPH maintains and can provide those from 1946 to the present, with some years excluded. CDPH uses the data collected through vital records for public health research and planning. Prior to 2000, CDPH created a replacement birth certificate by photocopying the public portion of the original record to amend registrant and parent information. The unaltered original certificate was sealed and archived. After 2000, birth certificates are altered electronically and original records are stored in an internal electronic system, on microfiche, or at the State Records Center. CDPH maintains all copies of original birth certificates. When a new birth certificate is created by CDPH, they send a “sealing notice” to the county of birth, instructing the county to replace the original certificate with the new certificate. Counties are instructed to confidentially destroy or delete all other records.
3. Amendment of records following an adoption. CDPH utilizes the Electronic Birth Registration-Amendment Request Portal to create a Court Report of Adoption form to amend a birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. The clerk of the California Superior Court granting the adoption is required to complete the Court Report of Adoption and send it to CDPH. The new birth certificate will be prepared by the vital records office in the child’s state of birth. If the adoptee was born in another state, CDPH will forward the Court Report of Adoption to the vital records office in the state of birth to prepare the new birth certificate. The information provided in the Court Report of Adoption is used to locate and seal the original birth record of the adopted child and to prepare the new birth certificate. The Report contains the child’s original birth name, sex, date and place of birth, physician’s or attendant’s name, and the natural parents’ names, as well as the child’s new name and information about the adoptive parents. When CDPH processes the adoption papers, they will prepare the new birth certificate and provide one certified copy of the new certificate at no cost, as it is included in the court fee paid at the time the adoption petition is filed. The adoptive parents do not have to request CDPH to prepare the new certificate unless they want additional copies, as the court clerks are required to do so. CDPH’s website states that the average time to process an amendment request is currently 9 to 11 weeks. For incomplete requests, it takes approximately 12 to 14 weeks from the date received to issue a letter requesting the outstanding required documentation. Once the required documents are received, it takes an additional 8 to 10 weeks for a request to be completed and mailed from their office. According to the National Council for Adoption, in 2023, there were an estimated 10,597 children adopted in California.
4. Related legislation. SB 381 (Wahab of 2026) authorizes the disclosure of an original birth certificate to an adopted person, or descendant of a deceased adopted person, requires the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and establishes a process to request an original birth certificate. SB 381 also requires the State Registrar to remove the adopted parents’ exception that requires the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents. SB 381 is pending in the Assembly.
5. Prior legislation. AB 1332 (Evans of 2007), among other provisions, would have required the State Registrar to establish procedures for the issuance of an expedited amended birth certificate within 30 days following an adoption, and would have authorized a fee to be charged for the issuance of that certificate. AB 1332 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.
6. Support. The Alliance for Children’s Rights writes that without access to the new birth certificate, parents may struggle to enroll their child in school, obtain health care, secure identification, or arrange travel. Families are forced to navigate months of avoidable stress and uncertainty simply to access this critical document. This bill would establish a clear timeline to ensure families have timely access to services as they transition to permanency.
7. Amendments. The author requests the Committee approve amendments to require the State Registrar to notify the court within 14 weeks if the report of adoption is incomplete, and to require the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks upon receipt of a completed report of adoption, as follows:

(a)(1) If the State Registrar determines that the report of adoption is incomplete, the State Registrar shall notify the court within 14 weeks requesting the missing required documentation. The State Registrar shall establish a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receipt of the required documentation.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:

Support: Alliance for Children’s Rights

Oppose: None received.

-- END --