Judie Cook has asked for more information on this Bill. According to the previously amended language for SB 1614: "This bill would require the comprehensive index described above, and birth and death record indices prepared or maintained by local registrars and county recorders, to be kept confidential, except that these indices may be disclosed to government agencies as prescribed by law. This bill would exempt these indices from disclosure under the California Public Records Act. This bill would prohibit a government agency from selling or releasing these indices except as authorized by law. This bill would also prohibit specified entities and individuals from releasing any of the information contained in a comprehensive index purchased from the State Registrar prior to December 31, 2001, to a 3rd party. This bill would authorize the department to assess an unspecified civil penalty to enforce this provision against individuals and other specified entities. "This bill would require, on or before an unspecified date, the State Registrar to establish separate noncomprehensive electronic indices of all California birth and death records and make the indices continuously, electronically available to county recorders' offices statewide. "This bill would require the noncomprehensive indices to be available at the State Registrar's office and in county recorders' offices for public inspection and viewing only at computer terminals designated for this purpose , by individuals who have signed a standard form certifying, under penalty of perjury, that the information they view will not be used for criminal purposes. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, and by increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. "The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000. "This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. "With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. "Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes." As amended on May 30, 2002, SB 1614 has been reduced to the following: "SB 1614, as amended, Speier. Public records: vital statistics. "Existing law requires the Director of Health Services, as the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, to administer the registration of births, deaths, fetal deaths, and marriages. Existing law requires the State Registrar to arrange and permanently preserve the certificates in a systematic manner and to prepare and maintain a comprehensive and continuous index of all certificates registered. "This bill would declare the intent of Legislature to enact legislation to protect the confidentiality of birth and death record indices. "Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to protect the confidentiality of birth and death record indices." Margie Campbell of San Joaquin County commented that it was probably a combination of Senator Speier and others receiving opposition correspondence and the present state of California's budget deficit and further impending financial woes. While this might be true, the fact that the Bill was not pulled entirely by Senator Speier tends to make me believe, as Phil VanCamp noted to me, that we need continue to be vigilant. If not, they could slip this through packaged with something else that would pass before we know it. As I said, for the work that we do we use the vital statistics information to identify any family members who may be buried in unmarked graves in our over 200 historic cemeteries. The information often gives us another clue as to how to contact family descendants to advise them of the condition of the cemetery where their loved ones are at rest. In many respects, we have acted as ex-officio family genealogists for hundreds of our county's pioneer residents. PLEASE don't contact me with genealogy requests, the other half of our battle is to protect the unmarked graves in the cemeteries from being desecrated by current interments AND convincing our county of the vested (prescriptive) PUBLIC title to the vast majority of the cemeteries. We have recently received a free website hosted by US GenNet and will be producing pages about what is happening in our county. It is not a pretty tale... IF you have a genealogy inquiry, please us the US GenWeb site for El Dorado County. We frequently check those postings and respond with whatever information we may have. Let's stay vigilant on this access to public vital statistics. The internet is a valuable and powerful tool to use in order for our voices to be heard. Sue Silver El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/VW.2ADE/1006 Message Board Post: looking for carlos van winkle any info will be appreciated

Greetings, SB 1614 which would have severely restricted access to birth and death records in California, appears to have to have been amended by Senator Jackie Speier. A brief review leads me to believe that Senator Speier may have received a large number of comments in opposition. To review the new text, go to: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_1614&sess=CUR&house=B&search_type=email It is important for genealogists everywhere to keep your eyes and ears open for potential future changes to this bill or the introduction of additional proposed legislation that may act to restrict access to public records. While I personally can understand the desire to stop identity theft, and I acknowledge that our new War on Terrorism may be dependent on stopping people who will steal the identities of others to commit egregious acts against our country and citizens, we cannot allow the acts of a few criminals to cause us the loss of freedom to these important documents of the past. If there are any professional genealogists out there who may have a reasonable solution the state could use to help prevent identity theft, I would hope you might contact Senator Speier's office and offer your recommendations or suggestions. Those who work at this craft by profession are going to be the ones who, by far, have the most vast and varied experiences that would lend itself to understanding the obstacles created by lack of record availability. Thanks to anyone who sent responses as a result of my last email. I have to believe we all made a difference. Sue Silver El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission

Billie, here's a transcription of her obituary, if you'd like the hard copy send me a mailing address and I'll be happy to send it..sorry about the mix-up, I have a tough time locating anyone after 1997, <GRIN>....Alma Merced Sun-Star. Tuesday, September 25, 2001. page A-3 Dora Parks, 74. Homemaker Dora l. Parks, a resident of Los Banos, died Saturday in Modesto. She was born Feb 8, 1927, in Ninnekah, Okla.. She volunteered her time to Kings View as a cook for the workers. Survivors include her husband, Clifford Parks; two sons, Calvin Hill of Los Banos and Luther Hill of Dos Palos; four daughters, Lois Ingram of Chowchilla, Sandra Weaver of Dos Palos, Alice Edwards of Fresno and Helen Prein of Los Banos; 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and two great-great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be today at 10 a.m. at Family Worship Center in Los Banos. Services will be at noon at the center. The Rev. Michael Wenger will officiate. Burial will be in Los Banos District Cemetery at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1002.1.1.2 Message Board Post: Carol, found all four obits..if you could send me your mailing address privately, I'll drop them in the mail for you. Her death certificate listed her father & mother as Jake Honeycutt, Carolina Barnes, bithplaces unknown. Here's a list of children from her obit. Five daughters; Eula Peters of Fresno Doris Dixon of San Diego Monnie Price of Sacramento Edith Foy of Anticoh Thelma Trammell of Gentry, Ark. Five sons; Mervle Sutherland of Winton Herbert Sutherland of Merced Robert Sutherland of Merced Herman Sutherland of Merced Percy Sutherland of Selah, Wash. Hope this helps some..Alma Sto4us@aol.com

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sutherland Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1002.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hello again Alma, if it's not too much trouble could you also get info on Milton, Audie Earl, Mervle Ralph and Herbert Edward Sutherland, they are related to Ellen.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Metchnikoff, Gonzales, Long, Mitchell Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1005 Message Board Post: Obituary Alexander Metchnikoff, 67 Business owner Alexander John Metchnikoff, a Merced resident, died Tuesday at home. He was born Sept. 18, 1931 in Los Angeles. He owned and managed a mobile home detailing business for 27 years. Survivors include three daughters, Deborah Gonzales of La Puente, Randi Metchnikoff of Riverside, and Joy Long of Hunting Beach [should be Huntington Beach]; one son, Alex Metchnikoff of Apple Valley; a sister, Collette Mitchell of Tehachapi; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services will be private. Contributions may be made to Hinds Hospice of Merced, P.O. Box 763, Merced 95341-0763 [Sun Merced Star, November 28, 1998]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1002.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you so much Alma. Elzy or Elza was Ellen's husband, but not sure if he died before she came to California. I reconize some of the names and they are her children, But out of fourteen, I have only identified nine for sure. Again thank you and am looking forward to the obit.

Hi Don..I hope this helps in your search....Alma..Merced Co. Volunteer Death Certificate transcription. Merced County. Book 26, page 241 Leslie Harvey Thornberry Death date: June 11, 1964 Time: 5:10 a.m. Age: 78 yrs Sex: Male Color/Race: White Marital status: Married SS#: none Occupation: Farmer, Life, Self, Farming Birthdate: Dec 11, 1885 Birthplace: Kansas Name and birthplace of Mother: Laura -----, PA. Name and birthplace of Father: Stephen Thornberry, Kent. Name of spouse: Rose Thornberry Length of stay in County of death: 8 yrs, In CA: 25 yrs Last usual residence: 1300 Elm, Atwater, CA Place of death: Merced Convalescent Hospital, 510 W. 26th St., Merced, CA Burial date: June 13, 1964 Burial place: Winton District Cemetery, Winton, CA Funeral director: V.H. Worden Informant: Rose Jackson (daug) 775 Gentry Way, Reno, NV Cause of death: Pneumonia bilateral bronchial hypoplastic bone (?). W.Neal Carter, M.D., Atwater, CA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Merced Sun-Star, Merced, CA. Friday, June 12, 1964 Leslie H. Thornberry Atwater - Funeral services will be conducted in the Atwater Worden Funeral Chapel Saturday at 10 a.m., for Leslie Harvey Thornberry, 78, of 1300 Elm St. Atwater, who died Thursday in a Merced Hospital. Burial will be in Winton District Cemetery. Rev. Frank Spark of Southern Baptist Church will officiate. He is survived by his wife, Rose; one brother, Leo of Kansas; one sister, Mrs. Pearl Acord of Oklahoma; five sons, Edgar of Sierra Madre, Elvin of Kansas, Emmett of Oklahoma, Alford of Colorado, Joseph of Montana; five daughters, Mrs. Laura Titus of Oregon; Mrs. Irene Harbor of Oregon; Mrs. Mildred Slayton of Los Angeles, Mrs. Rose Jackson of Nevada, Mrs. Grace Whales of Massachusetts and 29 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. A native of Kansas, he moved to Oklahoma as a young man. He homesteaded a farm and his children were born and reared there. Twenty-five years ago he came to the Los Angeles area and eight years ago came to Atwater. He has been in the Hospital since July of 1963. In a message dated 05/14/2002 6:37:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time, arg0nut@mindspring.com writes: << I am Don Webber living in Pine Grove, Ca in the motherlode country. Recently I was given the task of finding burial information on all my Peavey relatives, who came here to California. That included 27 individuals, however so far I find only one from Merced County. > Leslie H. Thornberry, b. 22 Dec 1885 in unknown place; died 11 Jun 1964 in Atwater, Merced County and buried on 14 Jun 1964. Most of this info came from the California Death Records web site, and no SS# was found. The place of birth as well as place of burial have not been discovered as yet - at least not by us. It is that data that I hope you can help us with. His spouse, Rosa B. Day/Thornberry, b. 23 Dec 1887 in Kansas; d. 12 May 1966 in Los Angeles, buried on 14 May 1966 in a place unknown to us. No SS# available. (Excuse my grammar.) All us Peavey researchers will be grateful for your efforts. And of course, I will be happy to pay reasonable expenses. My sincere thanks. Don fathiker@volcano.net >>

Thanks Judy...I would of never found her, my computer crashed a few weeks back, lost my favorite links..I'll check the Merced Sun-Star. Thanks again....Alma Billie, I'll check this coming week, sorry I made a boo-boo...Alma ewbank@mailpad.com writes: Rootsweb- Obituary Notice lists: PARKS, DORA L, 74, Los Banos, CA b 8 Feb 1927 d 22 Sep 2001 Fresno Bee 2001-9-25 I do not have access to the Fresno Bee to help Billie out. Perhaps the Merced Library has a copy, or it's in the local Merced paper also on the 24 or 25 of Sept, 2001 Judy Ewbank >>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1004.1 Message Board Post: Rootsweb- Obituary Notice lists: PARKS, DORA L, 74, Los Banos, CA b 8 Feb 1927 d 22 Sep 2001 Fresno Bee 2001-9-25 I do not have access to the Fresno Bee to help Billie out. Perhaps the Merced Library has a copy, or it's in the local Merced paper also on the 24 or 25 of Sept, 2001 Judy Ewbank

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1002.1 Message Board Post: Carol, I can search for her obit next week. I didn't find Elzy Sutherland...are you sure this was it correct name? Found the following Sutherland's that died in Merced Co., some could be her children...let me know if you'd like information on them..Milton listed below fits her age range..Alma SUTHERLAND ELLEN PURLINA 01/14/1885 BARNS HONEYCUTT F MISSOURI MERCED 06/18/1959 74 yrs SUTHERLAND MILTON 07/09/1881 ARCHIBOLD SUTHERLAND M MISSISSIPPI MERCED 04/12/1955 552-24-6011 73 yrs SUTHERLAND AUDIE EARL 03/22/1903 HUNNICUT SUTHERLAND M MISSOURI MERCED 01/11/1956 566-05-9158 52 yrs SUTHERLAND MERVLE RALPH 06/01/1909 HONEYCUTT M MISSOURI MERCED 09/01/1986 557-16-3497 77 yrs SUTHERLAND HERBERT EDWARD 03/04/1917 HUNNICUTT M ARKANSAS MERCED 10/03/1989 557-24-3464 72 yrs SUTHERLAND DANIEL RODERICK M UNKNOWN MERCED 05/06/1945 539-10-2355 44 yrs SUTHERLAND KENNETH HARVEY 12/23/1914 PASCHAL SUTHERLAND M OREGON MERCED 12/27/1947 33 yrs SUTHERLAND VERA M 04/23/1881 GARIBALDI MASCHIO F CALIFORNIA MERCED 04/25/1958 77 yrs SUTHERLAND VIOLA ETTA 01/20/1903 MILLER F MISSOURI MERCED 01/04/1983 557-16-349

Charlotte, Here's his dc & obit...Hope it helps...Alma Death Certificate transcription. Merced County. Book 22, page 232 William Benton Jackson Death date: Nov 23, 1957 Time: 4:10 p.m. Age: 79 yrs Sex: Male Color/Race: White Marital status: Widowed Occupation: Laborer Birthdate: April 21, 1878 Birthplace: Ark. Name and birthplace of Mother: Tracy Durham, ILL Name and birthplace of Father: Mark Jackson, Ark. Residence: 926 Eighth Street, Los Banos, CA [inside corporate limits] Place of death: Merced Co. General Hospital, Merced, CA. Burial date: Nov 26, 1957 Burial place: Los Banos Cemetery Funeral director: Whitehurst Funeral Chapel Informant: Ernest Jackson Cause of death: Bronchopneumonia x days Pancreatic carcinoma with metastases x days Operation: 9-16-1957, major findings of operations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Los Banos Enterprise. Los Banos, CA. Friday Nov. 29, 1957, front page LAST RITES SAID FOR WILLIAM B. JACKSON The Rev, Jack McAdoo of the Merced Pentecostal Church of God officiated at funeral services in the Whitehurst Chapel Tuesday afternoon for William Benton Jackson, 79, retired landscape gardner, who died in a Merced hospital last Saturday after an illness of three months. Jackson was a native of Graphic, Arkansas, and came to Los Banos in 1950. Previously since 1937 he had lived in Whittier and Los Gatos. His home was at 926 8th St. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Cleta Denham of Los Banos and Mrs. Beatrice Hall of Quincy, Illinois; two sons, Belton of San Jose and Ernest of Campbell; and 14 grandchildren. Burial was in the Los Banos Cemetery. flocks4@junct.com writes: << Hi, William Benton Jackson b. 21 April 1878 Arkansas d. Nov 23, 1957 in Merced Co., I would like to have a transcription of his obit. If anyone could help me. He was buried in Los Banos Cemetery. Charlotte E. Flock >>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1000.2 Message Board Post: Lou, I wasn't able to find an obit in the Los Banos, Dos Palos or Merced newspapers...Here's his dc, hope it helps...Alma Death Certificate transcription. Merced County. Book 64, page 48 Dess Lavone Dabbs Death date: Aug 12, 1986 Time: 1650 Age: 48 yrs Sex: Male Color/Race: Caucasian Marital status: Married Occupation: Equipment operator x 15 yrs, Various Firms, Agriculture SS# 570-50-5772 Birthdate: May 13, 1938 Birthplace: OK Name and birthplace of Mother: Edith Walters, OK Name and birthplace of Father: Haskell Dabbs, Ark. Name of spouse: Alice Fredricks Armed Forces: 1955 - 1958 Usual residence: 925 Illinois Ave., Los Banos Place of death: Merced Community Medical Center, 301 E. 13th St., Merced Burial date: Aug 15, 1986 Burial place: Dos Palos Cemetery, Dos Palos, CA Funeral director: Bucheim Family Kerman Chapel Informant: Steve Dabbs, [brother] P.O.Box 743, Vernalis, CA 95385 Cause of death: A. Cardiac Arrest B. Cancer ? Chest Dr. Ray Hanson, M.D., Merced, CA

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Finsters Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/VW.2ADE/880.1.1.2 Message Board Post: I am the grand son of Idea Bell Finster---Have information on them back to 1850's and some photos---Gran as she was called would visit Indiana every chance she got. I would like to correspond with any of the Finsters and exchange some information. I am particularly intrested in Frank Finster that died in Oklahoma in the 30's.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/VW.2ADE/1004 Message Board Post: Looking for an Obit for DORA LEE { LANCASTER } HILL, PARKS. She lived in Los Banos, Ca. and was a member of The Church of Christ { I think}. I'am her neice and would like to have it for my records. Thank You Billie Ruth Spier Smith

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sutherland, Honeycutt, Barnes Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1003 Message Board Post: Forgot to put place of death in earlier post. should be Ellen Purlina Sutherland b. 1-14-1885 Mo and died 6-18-1959 Merced, Ca. Spouse was Elzy Sutherland who died before her.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sutherland, Honeycutt, Barnes Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1002 Message Board Post: Hoping someone can find an obit for Ellen Purlina Sutherland, born 1-14-1885 Mo and died 6-18-1959 her spouse was Elzy Sutherland.

Hello everyone, Here is the shortcut to the Senate Bill 1614. http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_1614&sess=CUR&house > =B&site=sen I have briefly reviewed the bill, as amended, and the analyses, and I believe that it is important to raise your object to your state representatives in the Senate and the Assembly NOW. If you don't know who they are, for the Assembly go to http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset9text.htm and look it up. The full Assembly member directory is at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset7text.htm. The Senate directory is at http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp. The committee that will hear this on May 23, is comprised of the following: Senate Appropriations Committee meets every Monday at 9:30 am in Room 4203. JURISDICTION: Bills that are subject to Joint Rule 10.5 and are not referred to the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Bills that constitute a state-mandated local program. Members: Senator Dede Alpert (Chair) Senator Jim Battin (Vice Chair) Senator Debra Bowen Senator John Burton Senator Martha Escutia Senator Maurice Johannessen Senator Ross Johnson Senator Betty Karnette Senator Bruce McPherson Senator Kevin Murray Senator Don Perata Senator Charles Poochigian Senator Jackie Speier Addresses & Staff: Staff Director: Karen French Deputy Director: Anne Maitland Consultants: Maureen Brooks, George Cate, Bob Franzoia, Miriam Barcellona Ingeni to, Nora Lynn, and Lisa Matocq Assistant: Sally Ann Romo Phone: (916) 445-3284, Room 2206 This Bill must be STOPPED. While I understand the concern about stolen identities, the loss of information will devastate the genealogical momemtum that has been generated since the Internet became such a valuable tool. In my work, it will prevent us from tracking family members that may be buried in unmarked graves in our historic cemeteries that are still being used without maps or records, placing those graves at risk of obliteration. Send an Email to the Chair of this committee at senator.alpert@sen.ca.gov, under Subject: SB 1614 OPPOSE, addressed as: Honorable Dede Alpert, Chair Senate Appropriations Committee Tell the chair that you oppose SB 1614 because it hurts the majority of the people because of the actions of a few criminals. Explain the value of this information to the millions of genealogists worldwide who are attempting to reconnect with their ancestors of the past. Word your opposition firmly, but politely. Copy of your email to Senator Jackie Speier at senator.speier@sen.ca.gov, and copy both your state senator and assemblyman. If you value the access you've had to birth and death records in California (despite the delays you might have experienced), picture your life knowing you will have to physically go to Sacramento or the recorders office of the county where the record is on file. Senator Speier's bill is a knee jerk reaction to Sept. 11th and allows the actions of a few criminals to take away our freedom to access this information. Sue Silver, President El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission a California 501(3)(c) Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation ssilver1951@jps.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margie Campbell" <margecam@pacbell.net> To: <CASACRAM-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 1:59 AM Subject: [CASacramento] RE: SB1614- Restricton of vital records in CA-corrected link > http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_1614&sess=CUR&house > =B&site=sen > > - > link to the bill site. > http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1601-1650/sb_1614_cfa_20020508_12073 > 3_sen_comm.html >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: THOMAS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VW.2ADE/1001.1.1 Message Board Post: Thanks, Alma the 1935 one would be the best. His name was Floyd Albert THOMAS, his wife Lora Mae and kids Maxine, Mozelle, and Constance. I need the address to find them on the 1930 census. Thanks for the help. Jackie