Thought you might find this of interest .. submitted by one of our mailing list members 3 March 2003--7 pm EST House Bill 1540 was narrowly defeated in a vote in the Indiana House of Representatives this morning. 43 representatives voted in favor, 50 against, with 7 abstentions. A message from IGS President Betty Warren: Many thanks to all of you for your relentless support! We have gained a temporary reprieve. Now begins the challenging task of opening a dialog for compromise, because this issue will come up again, probably as soon as next year's legislative session. Genealogists must become fully informed of the possible options available and communicate our specific needs so that reasonable restrictions could be placed on our vital records. The integrity and safety of our own personal privacy must be a factor while consideration is made for preserving the integrity and safety of our vital records. The IGS Legislative Committee has already heard from several other states concerning this issue; however, an in-depth study of the other forty-nine states' access policies will need to be conducted. Input will be welcomed. Protect our records for future generations! .