Just thought all should know about this as it concerns all genealogists...
Mary N. McLaughlin
PS If you have already received this through other contacts I am sorry for
the duplication.
-----Original Message-----
From: Caroline Price <caroline(a)flash.net>
To: ISENBERG-L(a)rootsweb.com <ISENBERG-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: Monday, April 26, 1999 2:33 AM
Subject: Fw: Texas Records Legislation **Important** for genealogists
FYI
----------
> From: carolt <carolt(a)sosweb.net>
> To: RICE-L(a)rootsweb.com
> Subject: Texas Records Legislation **Important** for genealogists
> Date: Thursday, April 22, 1999 11:31 AM
>
> The following was forwarded to me and I think it warrants being
> looked at by everyone interested in Genealogy.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> : HI Fellow Genealogists:
> :
> : In case you have not heard there is a bill in the Texas
> : Legislature that might close the indexes to death and birth
> : records in Texas for 25 and 50 years, respectfully.
> :
> : My column on Saturday April 24 will state most of what we
> : know about the bill at this time. The column is already on
> : my website at
http://barnettesbooks.com Just click on read
> : the columns. Scroll down and click on April 24.
> :
> : The column was submitted this morning for a Saturday
> : publication date. Since being notified of this bill by
> : Tommy Burns of Houston, I have found out only a little bit
> : more.
> :
> : Supposedly, the bill was submitted to clarify the current
> : law. The intent of the bill was to clarify the existing law
> : and help open birth and death indexes in counties where the
> : county clerk felt they were closed (At the same time, other
> : county clerks felt the indexes were open). While in
> : committee an amendment was placed on the bill stating the
> : indexes would become open and public when the actual
> : records (birth and death records) became open and public.
> : According to the amendment the indexes would be closed for
> : 25-50 years until the records themselves are public.
> :
> : The HB 836 passed the Public Health Committee in the State
> : House of Representatives on March 30. It was referred to
> : the Senate State Affairs Committee. As of today, the bill
> : does not have a Senate sponsor. If we cause enough rancor,
> : it is possible no one will take on the sponsorship of the
> : bill and it will die in committee. On the otherhand, if a
> : sponsor is found, we want to be on record requesting a
> : hearing. At that hearing, we would need to flood the room
> : with genealogists and other concerned citizens. While a law
> : clarifying the present confusing law might be welcome,
> : amendment on HB 836 closes the birth and death indexes
> : until the actual records become public which is 25-50
> : years.
> :
> : .Monday night I contacted Jack Brissee, Chair of the
> : FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee. Jack and
> : his committee work with genealogists and other
> : organizations all over the country when records are
> : threatened with closure or misuse. He jumped on it and has
> : faxed a letter to the Chair of the Senate State Affairs
> : Committee. He has urged everyone to contact all
> : genealogists, genealogical, historical and other concerned
> : organizations to write a calm, collected, but, concerned
> : letter to the Chair of the Senate Affairs Committee and to
> : our own Senator concerning this bill.
> :
> : The Honorable Florence Shapiro
> : Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
> : P.O.Box 12068
> : Capital Station
> : Austin, TX 78711
> :
> :
> : Another bill in the legislature each of you should be aware
> : of is HB13. This bill seeks to allow adoptees to obtain
> : their original birth certificate upon reaching the age of
> : 21. HB13 has met with the hostility of child placement
> : services and birth mothers. Currently it is held up in
> : committee where it may die. Part of the HB 13 awareness may
> : have had some effect on HB 836 because both have to do with
> : vital statistics registration
> :
> : If you wish to pass this letter around, please feel free to
> : do so. I have included this mailing to a number of my
> : columnist colleagues around the country who might wish to
> : be alert to what is happening, down here, in Texas.
> :
> : I would appreciate hearing from anyone who hears any news
> : on this matter.
> :
> : Thank You,
> :
> : MIC
> :
> : Mic Barnette's Writes a Weekly Genealogy Column In
> : The Houston Chronicle. Read it on the Web At Barnette's
> : Family Tree Book Company
http://barnettesbooks.com
>
>
>
>
>