FYI--I am forwarding this, but I have not check to verify the information. The bill Internet address is listed in the body of the report. To verify the information you should check the site yourself. Iris Carter Jones, CSGA Legislative Advisor [CA] In a message dated 5/2/2003 7:12:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > >Recently, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 95 (the > >state budget bill). Included in sections 3705.23 and 3705.24 is language > >that would: > > > >-- eliminate uncertified copies of vital records > > > >-- add a $5 surcharge to what is already charged for a certified copy > >(raising the total cost of a single document to anywhere between $12 and > >$17, depending on the agency) > > > >-- creates a "certification of birth," which does not require the > >parents' names to be listed > > > >In addition, the certified copy is not required to be a photocopy of the > >record. Unlike other states where the threat to vital records access is > >based on fears about identity theft and homeland security, the Ohio > >legislature is doing this under the guise of "fiscal responsibility." > >Although nobody has been able to get someone to speak on the record, my > >sources at the Ohio Historical Society tell me that they have heard from > >the State Vital Statistics officials, who say that they cannot afford to > >process uncertified copies. (Because the way the open records law is > >written, agencies must charge "at cost," which cannot include the cost of > >labor or any overhead, such as maintenance and preservation of the > >record.) > > > >Ohio has had a long tradition of open records. The Ohio Revised Code > >section 149.43 requires that "...all public records shall be promptly > >prepared and made available for inspection to any person at all > >reasonable times during regular business hours. Subject to division > >(B)(4) of this section, upon request, a public office or person > >responsible for public records shall make copies available at cost, > >within a reasonable period of time. In order to facilitate broader access > >to public records, public offices shall maintain public records in a > >manner that they can be made available for inspection in accordance with > >this division." > > > >House Bill 95 does not exclude vital records from what are defined as > >public records. There are many other ways to keep uncertified photocopies > >available to the public, including setting a statutory fee (perhaps at $1 > >per page) or setting the fee at a percentage of the certified fee. The > >full text of Ohio HB95 can be found at: > >http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText125/125_HB_95_PH_N.html > > > >It is a very large page. Use your Internet browser to find 3705.22 > >(3705.24 immediately follows.) > >The bill has passed the House, and has been forwarded to the Senate, > >where the Finance and Financial Institutions Committee is hearing > >testimony. > > > >Links to contact information for the members of the Ohio Senate can be > >found at: > >http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/by_name.html > > > >Members of the Finance and Financial Institutions Committee are: > >Bill Harris, Chair > >Ron Amstutz > >Louis Blessing > >John Carey > >James Carnes > >Eric Fingerhut > >Randy Gardner > >David Goodman > >Jay Hottinger > >Jeff Jacobson > >Mark Mallory > >Ray Miller > >C.J. Prentiss > > > >Even if you do not live in Ohio, there is nothing to say that you cannot > >contact any member of the Ohio Senate or the Ohio House and tell them how > >the language in sections 3705.23, 3705.24, etc. would affect you. > >If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me. > >Ohio genealogists need your support -- and we need it *now*