Hi All , This was passed onto me . Many of you may already know about this but for those who do not: A severe threat to access of Massachusetts vital records. The recently introduced Massachusetts House of Representatives bill H5158 (would close marriage and death records since 1950, as well as birth records after 1910, to public access — including their indices! This bill has not had a public hearing and there is a significant danger of this bill passing without the opportunity for a public hearing. House Bill 5158, currently reported out to the Committee on House Rules, would close birth records after 1910 and marriage and death records since 1950 to public access — as of January 1, 2004, when the inquirer must be proven to be ONLY the individual in question or the "spouse, children, parent as named on birth record, legal guardian, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, executor, authorized legal representative or authorized genealogist designated by one of the aforementioned persons in writing". http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/h00132.htm An article on this issue ran in the Waltham [MA] newspaper, The Daily News Tribune. The story includes quotes from New England Historic Genealogical Society Director of Library User Services Marie Daly. You can view the article at <A HREF="http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=89094&s=59622951"> http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/local_regional/birthrecords07182002.htm</A>. Massachusetts resident and you do not know who your state representative is, you can find out at <A HREF="http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=89088&s=59622951">http://www.wheredoivotema.com/</A>. In addition to expressing your concern, you should request to see this bill for yourself. Ask your Massachusetts House representative for a copy. All non-resident Massachusetts researchers should notify friends and relatives in Massachusetts about this bill. Non-residents can also contact the chairperson of the House Rules Committee, Angelo M. Scaccia at 617-722-2692 or at <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>. Out-of-state residents may want to refer to the fact that they do research in Massachusetts and, in fact, travel to Massachusetts specifically to do research in the vital records. Action should be taken immediately as the formal sessions close on July 31 but impromptu sessions have sometimes been used to pass such legislation! Please write : Dear (Representative Name): The birth, marriage and death records (vital records) of the Commonwealth have always been open to the public with few specific exceptions. House Bill 5158, currently reported out to the Committee on House Rules, would close birth records after 1910 and marriage and death records since 1950 to public access. We ask that you encourage further study of this bill by the Committee on House Rules and that you vote AGAINST this bill should it come to floor vote. H5158 would affect every citizen of the Commonwealth. Among other things it would: 1) block access to recent death records so that family medical histories could not be ascertained; 2) increase expenses for persons needing to prove legitimate access to the vital records; 3) not affect the risks of identity fraud or theft which does not occur from personal inspection of the vital records. Again I/we urge you to defeat H5158. Sincerely, Name Address Contact Info The Massachusetts Genealogical Council welcomes all questions from interested researchers, as well as shared experiences from other jurisdictions dealing with ill-conceived, reactionary measures to identity fraud, privacy or records preservation and access issues. Please send your questions and suggestions to <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>. Keep informed on this issue by checking on the Massachusetts Genealogical Council website at <A HREF="http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=89089&s=59622951"> http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm</A> and on the New England Historic Genealogical Society website at <A HREF="http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=89093&s=59622951">http://www.newenglandancestors.org/</A>. If you are among the millions who claim early ancestors in Massachusetts — prior to the proposed 1910/1950 exclusions — and do not believe you will be impacted by such a law, please consult with your contemporary cousins, resident collateral lines, and fellow genealogists. Your interests as an individual and as a genealogist will be affected! NEHGS Contact Information We encourage you to email this newsletter to others who might be interested. To subscribe, please visit <A HREF="http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=89090&s=59622951"> http://www.newenglandancestors.org/articles/research/?page_id=659&attrib1=1& seq_num=6</A>. To view the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, please visit <A HREF="http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=89093&s=59622951">www.NewEnglandAncestors.org</A>. If you have questions, comment or suggestions about the enewsletter, please contact Lynn Betlock at <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]"> [email protected]</A>.