Dear Listers, Please read this information, check out the websites noted in the article and then do your part by contacting your legislator and voicing your opposition to this bill. Sincerely, Darlene Anderson Executive Director, Genealogical Society of Marion County and County Coordinator, Marion County INGenWeb This information is from the IN-GENSOC-NEWS The electronic newsletter published by the Indiana Genealogical Society, Volume 2, Issue 1-26 January 2005 The Indiana General Assembly is once again considering a bill that would restrict access to birth and death records. This issue was last raised in the spring 2003 session of the state legislature, and at the time was defeated by a vote of 50-43, with 7 abstentions. This year's bill is House Bill 1551 (HB 1551), and if passed it would go into effect on July 1st. Sponsored by Representatives Peggy Welch, David Wolkins and Gregory Porter, the bill closes access to death records less than 50 years old, and birth records less than 75 years old. When vital records are issued, the bill limits access to: the person listed on the record; the mother or father of the person listed; the grandparent of the person listed, the spouse, sibling or offspring of the person listed, or "a person conducting a genealogical study in compliance with rules adopted by the state department". What is troubling is that rules created by the State Department of Health would not be subject to legislative measures. Also troubling is another provision of the bill, which says that the cause of death shall not be listed on a death record given out unless the person requesting the record "proves a documented need for the death certificate." The Indiana Genealogical Society urges Indiana residents to contact their legislator and voice their opposition to this bill. Contact information is available at <http://www.in.gov/legislative/>. You can read the entire bill at <http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/IN/IN1551.1.html> Stay tuned for updates.