Because of Indiana's embarrassment over this situation we have to pay for
it???
The following information was submitted to the Randolph Co List:
"The goal of the Bill is to make identity theft more difficult.
Indiana is currently experiencing a situation where they found that
the Executive Director of Public Employee's Retirement Fund had
gained this employment on false credentials. We do not know yet if
the retirement accounts were compromised. Prior to his employment
with PERF, he, under the same false identity, is accused of embezzling
over $600,000 from Cook, Inc., a pharmaceutical company in
Bloomington. IN
I expect that this legislation could pass..."
jo.kester(a)comcast.net
Betty Warren, President of the Indiana Genealogical Society, addressed
members of the IGS Board and friends in her email below. I received
permission from her to send her email to genealogists and friends. We
are asking you to please write your representative in the state of
Indiana and/or attend Wednesday's session concerning HB 1540 at the
State House in Indianapolis. For more information go to the IGS web site
at
http://www.indgensoc.org/HB1540.html to learn more.
And a special thank you to all the Indiana mail list administrators for
your support in sending emails to your mail lists concerning HB 1540!
Darlene Anderson
IGS East Central IN District Director
Dear friends of genealogy and IGS board members,
If you would take some time to check out the IGS website
(
www.IndGenSoc.org), you will see that Meredith (thank you for fast
action!) has posted the amendment digest proposed Wednesday February 5th
to *satisfy* the needs of genealogists in relation to the closing of
public access to the IN county birth (100 years) and death records (75
years). If you have not seen the bill yet, please, do read it.
I gave my testimony in the House of Representatives Chamber on Wednesday
in opposition to this bill and the amendment. Even though the use of
the word genealogist in the amendment looks good, I strongly believe
that without specific legal language that gives a definition and
description of genealogist, there would be no access because of
misinterpretation and misuse. The fact that they offered the amendment
is a good sign that dialog is open, as we petitioned for in the IGS
resolution. I, personally, am still opposed at this time.
The bill has been held over in committee, a small victory for the day!
However, it is scheduled to be heard again on Wednesday, February 12th
at 10:30 in the House Chamber. It is a large room, but I would like to
see as many of you there as humanly possible. You would not have to get
up in front and testify (except you, Curt!). But, if we can fill that
room (and the balcony, too would be nice), it would be a wonderful show
of support. There is the possibility that they will put it off to
another day, so do check the Sunday paper for the list of bills to be
heard that week and we will keep in touch with Meredith to keep the
website current. There is also the possibility that they would wait
until the day of to cancel, which we cannot foresee. But, showing up
would still send a very powerful message.
Please continue with your email messages to the committee in regard to
the amendment. They are being noted! Also, take the time to write a
letter, if you can. Please do not use form letters or xerox copies;
that would also be noted. Legible handwritten notes get the most
notice, I am told.
Wilma, please especially thank your local Representative Andrew Thomas
for his support. Unfortunately, he is not on the committee, but he is a
genealogist! And, he took the time to attend the hearing (even though
he was not feeling well) and help support us.
Nancy Hurley of the IGS Legislative Committee, myself and Curt will be
preparing information for testimony; we will keep you posted of events
as soon as we can. If you can help with the information we are
gathering, please contact Nancy. Find her email on the IGS website or
in the list above.
And, please, mark your calendar to attend the hearing on Wednesday!
Parking will be difficult downtown, as most of the garages are used by
the legislators and *restricted from public access* :>) There is not
much available on the street either. The old bus station garage at Ohio
and Capitol is open. If you plan to stop in at the History Center later
in the day, use the IHS lot off of New York. Car pool, if that helps.
I will be coming from work that morning.
Thank you for your continued support. Maybe we can stop this in
committee! At the very least, we can let our voices be heard!
Betty