ATLANTA— Today the Georgia House of Representatives passed House Bill 388 by a vote of 96 to 66. This bill, also known as the “Option of Adoption Act,” allows prospective parents to adopt human embryos. The measure now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
“Under Georgia’s current laws, a woman could implant an embryo and carry it to term, only to have the biological parents reassert their parental rights when she goes into labor. That’s not fair, and it’s a risk that most people are unwilling to take. The Option of Adoption Act would fix that problem and protect a woman’s parental right should she choose to adopt and implant an embryo,” said Rep. Mills.
The Option of Adoption Act would provide procedures for embryo adoption so that the genetic mother and father can relinquish their rights to embryos before birth. Once the genetic parents have signed a written surrender of parental rights, an embryo could be transferred to its adoptive parents according to the adoption laws in Georgia.
“Human embryo adoption is a great way to give infertile couple’s another option in their quest to become parents. I hope that this legislation gives them the confidence to choose this form of adoption,” said Rep. James Mills.
There are over half a million human embryos in cryopreservation in the United States.
HB 388 is cosponsored by Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R- St. Simons), Rep. Ben Harbin (R- Evans), Rep. Melvin Everson (R- Snellville), Rep. Len Walker (R- Loganville), and Rep. Ed Setzler (R- Acworth).
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Representative James Mills represents the citizens of District 25, which includes portions of Hall County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1992, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Banks & Banking Committee, and Secretary of the Rules Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations and Ways & Means committees.