Hi Gang, This is no joke. This is being posted by my friend Sharon at the Ky Historical Soc. I've already emailed the legistatures from Perry , Knott and Franklin Counties and I hope some of you do the same. I don't want anyone messing with my hobby. Lynda In a message dated 3/21/2004 2:34:17 AM Eastern Standard Time, spike00@kih.net writes: > 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. >