I received the following through my Ward-L:
. I received the following response to my email...evidently it's
just birth records that may be affected.
Please note that I gave the wrong email address for Betty Soukup, Iowa State Senator whose
response was almost instantaneous. It should not be Soupkup......
bsoukup(a)legis.state.ia.us (Soukup, Betty)
Thank you for your interest in the proposed change in the procedure relating to copies of
birth records. This initiative will be part of the Department of Public Health's
legislative package for the 2000 session.
I have spoken with officials in the Department of Public Health to hear their
rationale for this change. They have indicated that under current law anyone can walk
into a county courthouse and look at birth records. Their concern stems, not from wanting
to restrict access to such records, but from a history of abuse by those seeking to
establish false identities.
I understand your concern, but there is a specific problem the Department is trying to
address and the Legislature will have to evaluate the arguments.
I am unsure how to address this issue, but the Department has indicated they are
willing to discuss alternatives.
Thank you again for sharing your views with me. Please feel free to contact me with
any additional information or comments.
Sincerely,
Betty Soukup
State Senator