This information is from the IN-GENSOC-NEWS
The electronic newsletter published by the Indiana
Genealogical Society, Volume 2, Issue 1-26 January
2005
The Indiana General Assembly is once again considering
a bill that would
restrict access to birth and death records. This
issue was last raised in
the spring 2003 session of the state legislature, and
at the time was
defeated by a vote of 50-43, with 7 abstentions. This
year's bill is House
Bill 1551 (HB 1551), and if passed it would go into
effect on July 1st.
Sponsored by Representatives Peggy Welch, David
Wolkins and Gregory Porter,
the bill closes access to death records less than 50
years old, and birth
records less than 75 years old. When vital records
are issued, the bill
limits access to: the person listed on the record; the
mother or father of
the person listed; the grandparent of the person
listed, the spouse, sibling
or offspring of the person listed, or "a person
conducting a genealogical
study in compliance with rules adopted by the state
department".
What is troubling is that rules created by the State
Department of Health would not
be subject to legislative measures. Also troubling is
another provision of
the bill, which says that the cause of death shall not
be listed on a death
record given out unless the person requesting the
record "proves a
documented need for the death certificate."
The Indiana Genealogical Society urges Indiana
residents to contact their legislator and voice their
opposition to this bill. Contact information is
available at
<
http://www.in.gov/legislative/>. You can read the
entire bill at
<
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/IN/IN1551.1.html>
Stay tuned for
updates.
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