Senate Bill 927, authored by Senator Steven Choi (R-Irvine), passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee today on consent, moving one step closer to providing relief for international adoptees whose California readoptions were never finalized through no fault of their own.
SB 927 creates a legal pathway for adult international adoptees to petition a California court to finalize their own readoption when their adoptive parents or adoption agency failed to complete the process while they were minors. The bill is intended to address longstanding gaps in adoption records that have left some adoptees without delayed registration of birth and other important legal documentation.
"These individuals grew up in our communities, attended our schools, and built their lives here," said Senator Choi. "They should not continue to face legal and bureaucratic challenges because someone else failed to complete paperwork decades ago. SB 927 provides a fair and practical solution for adoptees who have been left behind."
California has been a leading destination for international adoptions for decades. While the majority of adoptions were properly completed, some families never finalized the required California readoption process. In many of these cases, adoptive parents have since passed away, and adoption agencies have closed, leaving adult adoptees without access to critical records.
Recent amendments to SB 927 were developed in consultation with adoptees and family law and other experts. The bill allows courts to consider a broad range of evidence, including school records, medical records, and other documentation, while preserving judicial discretion to evaluate each case on its merits.
"In 2019, I authored legislation to help prevent this problem from occurring in the future," Senator Choi added. "SB 927 addresses those who slipped through the cracks before those protections were put in place and helps restore certainty and dignity to Californians who deserve recognition under the law."
SB 927 now advances to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal consideration.