Hi to all!
Bonnie - Have you seen or heard anything about this? I don't know about
you but I have a hard enough time tracking my ancestors without them
closing these records. Just thought everyone might be interested in
this.
Teri
->Here is an email message from Mic Barnett concerning Texas
Vital Records:
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
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