----- Original Message ----- From: Frank & Carolynn Bettis To: morganhistory@themyers.org Cc: saleguas@motion.net Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 5:02 PM Subject: Fw: HB 498 - SOS charging research fees Is there any way that you can get this out to as many County Coordinators as possible and get the folks out there to oppose Hannig's below outlined bill? Would appreciate any help you can afford. I've phoned both Hannig & Demuzio's offices and expressed my opposition. Please let me know if you concur with my feelings and if there is anyway this can go to all County Coordinators? Send it out over my name. This is a shame that Rep. Gary Hannig is doing this when Macoupin County has such an active Historical and Genealogical Societies, not to mention all of the other societies, researchers, etc. across Illinois. Thanks so much. Rep Gary Hannig has filed the following bill. The Secretary of State's Legislative Liaision, David Jones, is aware of the bill, but they were not involved in its creation. The bill will probably be heard in committee on Feb. 20th. HB 498 Amends the Secretary of State Act . Provides that a fee of $7 per research request for copies of non-certified death certificates, civil war muster records and census records shall be paid to the Secretary of State and deposited into the Archives Research Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Archives Research Fund and provides that monies deposited ito the fund may, subject to appropriation, be used by the Secretary of State for expenses of conducting archival research of Archive records. Effective July 1, 2003. Urge all in opposition to HB 498 to conctact Representative Gary Hannig by phone or mail at: 225 S. Macoupin St, Gillespie, IL 62033, Tel. # 217-839-2859 or 300 Capitol Bldg., Springfield, IL 62706, Tel. No. 217-782-8071 also contact: Senator Vince Demuzio, 140 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville, IL 62626, Tel. No. 217-854-4441 Have not been able to acquire an email address for Rep. Hannig and Sen. Demuzio does not have one. Strongly urge all those in opposition to this HB 498 also contact their local Representative(s) and Senator(s) making their feelings known. Perhaps if this HB 498 moves thru the legislative system, we can form a group and personally appear and offer testimony in opposition. This bill can be tracked at the Illinois Legislative Reference Bureau's web site: www.legis.state.il.us