The Kentucky Legislature is getting ready to drastically limit access to Kentucky vital records including BIRTHS, DEATHS, MARRIAGES, and DIVORCE. (MILITARY RECORDS are also being limited but I do not know which bill is involved.) You can find the entire bill at: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/record/04rs/HB100/SCS1.doc Death certificates will still be public record after 50 years but more recent death certificates will only be available to: 1. the decedent's widow or widower, 2. child eighteen (18) years of age or older 3. parent 4. grandparent 5. sibling eighteen (18) years of age or older 6. funeral director handling the decedent's funeral arrangements 7. personal representative of the decedent's estate 8. a named beneficiary of an insurance policy of the decedent 9. a person with a claim against the decedent's estate This means that genealogists can no longer order great-uncle Jasper's death certificate to see his parents' names. Birth records will be have limited access while the person is living but will still be public record after 100 years. Divorce and marriage records will be closed for 70 years. We are very late in the process. Jan 6-introduced in House; to Health and Welfare (H) Jan 15-posted in committee Jan 29-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute Jan 30-2nd reading, to Rules; floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute Feb 2-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 3, 2004 Feb 10-3rd reading, passed 94-2 with Committee Substitute, floor amendment (1) Feb 11-received in Senate Feb 17-to State and Local Government (S) Mar 16-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute Mar 17-2nd reading, to Rules THIS TUESDAY, March 23, this bill will be voted on in the full Senate. If it passes, it will go to Gov. Fletcher for his signature into law. Call and email your senator and let him know that you want HB 100 to fail. Time is critical! Do it by Monday, at the latest. You can find your Senator at http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/whoswho/whoswho.htm Telephone: 502-564-8100 FAX : 502-564-6543 Postal address: 700 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601 Toll Free Numbers - 2004 Session (only for Kentucky) Bill Status Line: 1-866-301-9004 Legislative Message Line: 1-800-372-7181 This is the same bill that failed in committee during the last Legislative session. The genealogists of the state worked together to stop its passage. Please pass this information along to others.