Here is the latest legislative update from the California State Genealogical Alliance. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Iris Jones" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 6:14 PM Subject: Legislative Report LEGISLATIVE REPORT - JUNE 2003 As all Californians know, the State has no budget yet. But, we do have good news regarding the funding for the California State Library. Two million dollars of the originally proposed Library budget cut has been reinstated. While this means the Library, like all California agencies, will be affected. Peter Dolgenos, Sutro Library (Branch of the California State Library) tells us: 'The California State Library will be affected by the cuts in the governor's proposed budget, but not as badly as was originally thought. 'As you may know, the Sutro has had to eliminate Saturday hours, but we are still open Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM. 'Our staff has been cut (without layoffs), but we are still able to perform essential tasks such as reshelving books. 'Our acquisitions budget has been cut, but not to zero. We continue to be grateful for material that is donated to us. . . . We do not plan to charge user fees.' In my early reports there was some confusion regarding the planned move of the Sutro Library into the J. Paul Leonard Library on the San Francisco State University campus. This move has been planned for some time and had nothing to do with the budget cuts. The move is scheduled in about four years. Sutro will remain under the control of the State Library, it will continue to be run and managed as it is presently. The move is being made to this up-graded facility for the safety and preservation of the collection. We will learn more about this as plans are worked out. Genealogists can rest assured that Sutro is alive and well according to Dolgenos. The second item I need to report on is the Federal Social Security Misuse Prevention Act, S228 and HR637. Neither bill as had any action since I last reported on them in May. I have not heard any news about the possibility of the author(s) taking amendments to included only living person. I will get back to you with any news on these bills. Just as a reminder, Public Notices are being issued in newspapers throughout the state to explain the July 1, 2003 changes in the law governing requests for California birth and death records: Beginning July 1, 2003 California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 permits only specific individuals to receive an AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY of a birth or death record. An AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY of a birth record is required to obtain a driver's license, passport, social security card and other services related to an individual's identity. An AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY of a death record may be required to obtain death benefits, claim insurance proceeds, notify social security and obtain other services related to an individual's identity. Please see below for a list of authorized individuals. Those who do not meet the criteria for an AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY may receive an INFORMATIONAL CERTIFIED COPY with the words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY" imprinted across the face of the copy. When ordering in person: an authorized individual must complete an approved application, including a signed statement sworn under penalty of perjury to receive an AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY. When ordering by mail: a notarized Certificate of Identity and completed application form, signed under penalty of perjury by the authorized requestor are required. Applications and Certificate of Identity forms are available on county web sites. Individuals permitted to receive an AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY: * The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant. * A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code. * A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another government agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business. * A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant. * An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate. * Any funeral director that orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of any individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, or subdivision (a) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code. To be added to the Network, send your name, name of your organization, and e-mail address, stating you wish to be added to the Legislative Network, to <[email protected]>.---19 June 2003, CSGA Legislative Network, Iris Carter Jones. [Permission is granted to reprint Legislative reports. Please cite your source.]