Massachusetts (MA) Researcher Update: MA Vital Records Closing! The Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC) board has been informed that the MA Department of Health is attempting to get the MA House Bill H5158 passed this week on the third reading in the MA House http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h05158.htm . Continued rereading, analysis and consultations regarding this bill by MGC board members and representatives is creating deepening concerns. It is important that you request BOTH a copy of this bill from your MA rep AND an explanation of you rep's position on the contents and the implications. The text of the bill is still not yet on line at http://www.state.ma.us/scripts/legis/ltsh.idq?HouseNumber=5158 Use every avenue. Register your concerns with your MA rep http://www.state.ma.us/legis/repdis01.htm Take a copy of the bill to a town clerk or an archivist at the MA archives and ask them exactly how they would interpret and implement it. Ask the HOUSE RULES committee members about their findings on the impact and the consequences of this bill : Members appointed to the committee: Rep. Scaccia of Boston Honan of Boston Correia of Fall River DiMasi of Boston Speliotis of Danvers Binienda of Worcester Ciampa of Somerville Harkins of Needham Turkington of Falmouth Connolly of Everett Lewis of Dedham Fallon of Malden Kelly of Dalton Cleven of Chelmsford Poirier of North Attleborough http://www.state.ma.us/legis/comm/h33.htm Additional MGC recommendations can be found at http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm . MA residents will shoulder the additional tax dollars, but all researchers will incure both specific costs and indirect costs with this bill - with the closure of access and services! Please, report your findings to the MGC at [email protected] or Massachusetts Genealogical Council , PO Box 5393, Cochituate, MA 01778. Thank you, Sharon Sergeant, Program director Massachusetts Genealogical Council http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes http://autos.yahoo.com