-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Massachusetts Vital Records Public Hearings Alert! Resent-Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 17:00:49 -0700 Resent-From: CA-SACRAMENTO-EVENTS-L@rootsweb.com Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 16:00:41 -0800 From: "Pamela Dallas" <pbdallas@earthlink.net> To: CA-SACRAMENTO-EVENTS-L@rootsweb.com Do you research in Massachusetts? If so, this will interest you. -----Original Message----- From: Sharon Sergeant [mailto:info@genealogyfair.com] Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 3:04 PM Massachusetts Vital Records Public Hearings Alert! Hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2003 at 9:30 A.M. Public Hearings on Vital Records bills to be held in Room A-1 by the JOINT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS Call (617) 722-2120 for hearing schedule confirmation and directions. It is VERY important that genealogists and family history researchers are well represented at this hearing. Genealogists must make it clear that their views represent a large percentage of concerned citizens. If you cannot attend this hearing, you should contact your state representative, senator and the JOINT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS members listed below to express your interest in the bills regarding access to vital records. If you do not have copies of the proposed bills (some are available on the Massachusetts legislature web site - see links below), request copies from your representative. You may also request documentation to support specific claims for "need" in the various measures. Researchers who are not Massachusetts residents may express the impact on their research and the resulting loss of tourism revenue and other issues that the members of the JOINT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS should be aware of. There is still space available at the The Massachusetts Genealogical Council Annual Meeting at Regis College in Weston MA on Saturday March 29 - see http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/MGC_2003_Flyer.PDF or http://www.GenealogyFair.com for a text version of the program information. The Massachusetts Genealogical Council will update their website on Monday March 31 with information to help coordinate attendees at http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm Additional information for these hearings may be found as follows: JOINT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS Room 472 State House Boston, MA 02133 Telephone: (617) 722-2120 It shall be the duty of the committee on Government Regulations to consider all matters concerning public utilities, gambling, the racing industry, the registration of various trades or professions, the issuance of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages and such other matters as may be referred. Members appointed to the committee: Morrissey of Norfolk and Plymouth Tucker of Second Essex and Middlesex Baddour of First Essex Hart of First Suffolk McGee of Third Essex and Middlesex Knapik of Second Hampden and Hampshire Bosley of North Adams B. P. Golden of Boston Naughton of Clinton Ayers of Quincy Festa of Melrose Nangle of Lowell Leary of Worcester T. M. Stanley of Waltham Wallace of Boston Brown of Wrentham Hill of Ipswich http://www.state.ma.us/legis/comm/j17.htm MASSACHUSETTS VITAL RECORDS FEE and LEGISLATION SUMMARY FEE INCREASE FOR VITAL RECORDS SERVICES http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bhsre/rvr/FeeIncrease.htm Effective April 1, 2003, fees for Vital Records services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as follows : SEARCH FOR BIRTH, DEATH, OR MARRIAGE RECORDS IN PERSON A 10-year search including one certified copy OR a medical research copy OR an official statement that the desired record is not on file (Negative Statement) $12.00 each ; Decorative Heirloom Certificates (birth and marriage only) ordered in person $50.00 each BY MAIL A 10-year search including one certified copy OR a medical research copy OR an official statement that the desired record is not on file (Negative Statement) 30 Day Service $22.00 each ; Decorative Heirloom Certificates (birth and marriage only) ordered by mail $60.00 each EXPEDITED MAIL Mail orders requesting expedited two week service $28.00 each Request ordered by phone through VITALCHEK system (includes a $5.50 VITALCHEK fee), one copy sent through U.S. mail $33.50 for first copy Request ordered by phone through VITALCHEK system (includes a $5.50 VITALCHEK fee), one copy sent by Federal Express (includes $17.50 FedEx fee) $51.00 for first copy Additional copies ordered at the same time by phone through the VITALCHEK system $28.00 each RESEARCHING VITAL RECORDS IN PERSON AT THE STATE REGISTRY Individuals performing their own research at the Registry $6.00 per hour AMENDMENTS Amending existing vital record documents $50.00 per amendment Proposed ADDITIONAL fee increases via surcharge for automated database as specified:  A special Senate committee comprised of Robert E. Travaglini, Stan Rosenberg, Cynthia Stone Creem, Susan C. Fargo, Harriette L. Chandler, Robert O'Leary and Michael R. Knapik issued A Report of the Special Committee to Recommend Mitigation for Local Aid Cuts with the following recommendation: Relating to Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (HD2428) - The bill relating to the birth, death and marriage records would permit the development of a statewide database to serve the needs of the public. - Through a surcharge on certified copies of vital records, the state projects income of $1.28 million in the first year, rising to $2.09 million in the seventh year, with surpluses ranging from $327,000 to $663,000. (see http://www.stanrosenberg.com/mitigation.html ) Proposed Legislation with Public Hearings To Be scheduled: The MGC created Senate Bill 405 AN ACT RELATIVE TO BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH RECORDS a petition of Susan C. Fargo, Charles E. Shannon, Susan W. Pope, Robert L. Hedlund and other members of the General Court. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00405.htm Senate Bill 408 RELATIVE TO THE MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN RECORDS a petition of Guy W. Glodis, Bruce E. Tarr, Brian A. Joyce, Anthony J. Verga and John P. Fresolo for legislation relative to the management of adoption records by city and town clerks http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00408.htm Senate Bill 443 AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE USE OF ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED VITAL RECORDS a petition of Michael W. Morrissey  most notably "Special certified copy", may include, but are not limited to, professional, personal or genealogical research. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00443.htm Senate Bill 533 AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE ELIMINATION OF RESEARCH FEES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S VITAL RECORDS DEPARTMENT a petition of Irving R. Murstein and Robert L. Hedlund http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00533.htm Senate Bill 1040 AN ACT FURTHER REGULATING ACCESS TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES .. By Ms. Fargo, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.1040) of Susan C. Fargo, John A. Lepper, Charles E. Shannon, Bruce E. Tarr relating to uncertified copies and adoption records http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st01040.htm Senate Bill 1054 AN ACT RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHING OPEN ADOPTION RECORDS AT THE AGE OF CONSENT .. By Mr. Hedlund, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.1054) of Robert L. Hedlund and Irving Murstein for legislation relative to public inspection of adoption records http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st01054.htm Senate Bill 1953 AN ACT FURTHER REGULATING CERTIFICATES OF BIRTH RESULTING IN STILLBIRTH.. By Mr. Shannon, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1953) of Charles E. Shannon and Garrett J. Bradley for legislation to further regulate certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st01953.htm House Bill 143 Petition of William M. Straus for legislation to regulate the use of social security numbers for identification purposes in the Commonwealth http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h00143.htm House Bill 545 Petition of Thomas P. Kennedy and Robert S. Creedon, Jr., relative to the issuance of certified birth records to Native Americans ( to correct the race listed on their birth certificates at no charge when proof is presented). http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h00545.htm House Bill 1085 Petition of Elizabeth Poirier, Jo Ann Sprague, Michael J. Coppola, Scott P. Brown, Martin J. Walsh and Shirley Gomes relative to access to birth records of certain persons born out of wedlock (opens records in those cases where the father's name is listed). http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01085.htm House Bill 1321 of J. James Marzilli, Jr. relative to the treatment of vital records of certain non-marital children. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01321.htm House Bill 1465 Petition of Daniel E. Bosley relating to birth, marriage and death records [This is a resubmission of the July 2002 version of the H5158 bill which last year passed the House and was blocked in the Senate.] http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01465.htm House Bill 1656 Petition of of Peter V. Kocot relative to the issuance of certified birth records to Native Americans. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01656.htm House Bill 1661 Petition of Anthony J. Verga and Christopher P. Asselin relative to disclosure of information concerning certain birth, marriage and death records - closes all birth records after 1913 and all marriage and death records after 1953, such that only immediate family or representatives may access either the indices, the records or the certificates  at the discretion of the custodian. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01661.htm House Bill 2233 Petition of Thomas J. O'Brien, other members of the House and another relative to birth, marriage and death records. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h02233.htm House Bill 2459 Petition of Paul C. Casey relative to the issuance of certain birth and marriage records - exempts vital records recorded before 1 Jan 1841 [that is, before reporting to the state was required] and those for which volunteer waivers were registered from Section 2A of chapter 46 of the General Laws. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h02459.htm House Bill 3147 Petition of Brian S. Dempsey for legislation to further regulate the issuance of death certificates. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h03147.htm ===== Sharon Sergeant Ancestors and Ephemera http://GenealogyFair.com Bring Your Ancestors Home! ==== GEN-EVENTS Mailing List ==== If you have questions or problems re the GEN-EVENTS List, see: http://www.rootsweb.com/~autwgw/gencon/list.htm ==== CA-SACRAMENTO-EVENTS Mailing List ==== How to unsubscribe. 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