UP-DATE ON SB1614 - AUGUST 31, 2002 Last night just before 8 p.m. SB1614 pass on the Floor of the Senate. On Wednesday it was passed on the Assembly Floor in spite of the valiant effort on the part of Assemblyman Pescetti who supported our opposition. From there it moved back to the Senate. For the next two days, we worked to force the bill back to committee. When it left the Senate the language in the bill had been striped and it stated only intent. At that time the author assured Senator Brulte that it came back it would go to the Senate committees. By now the time is running short and old promises do not mean much, at the discretion of the chair the bill went to the Floor. This time it was Senator Bowen who eloquently plead the case for the genealogist and adoptees. She related the factual information that at neither the state or federal level had any identity thefts been linked to any indexes. She slowed them down. On the first vote the author only got 17 yes votes. But in the final minutes of the session when SB1614, the only bill heard that was place on call, received four addition yes votes. So, it passed by one vote. SB247, the 'good bill' also passed on Friday. This bill will do something to curtail identity theft, while continuing to allow researchers access to the information. I will have follow-up with more details later. Right now I need some rest. I plan to that the weekend off. It will be the first one in seven weeks. Have a good holiday. ------Iris Carter Jones, CSGA Legislative Network Coordinator, 31 August 2002.