Hello list Many thanks to Mike, who did get a reply from Assemblywoman Quigley's office, and forwarded it to us so we can all see it. The text of her response follows. As Mike pointed out - it is good, but can probably still be better. Her response still doesn't address the requirement that we not share the information and doesn't address any concerns about what years we should be able to access. But - the fact that she is planning to change the language is excellent and shows that all our hard work is paying off. Now, we just have to get them to word it right for us. Regards, Joan Joan M. Lowry mailto:jmlowry@earthlink.net > -----Original Message----- > From: GmDjones51@aol.com [mailto:GmDjones51@aol.com] > Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 9:03 AM > To: jmlowry@earthlink.net > Subject: Assemblywoman Quigley's reply > > > Dear Mr. Jones: > It was never our intent to make it difficult or impossible > for legitimate genealogists and family researchers to obtain > information about births and deaths. The attorneys who > drafted A-1390 had assured me the wording of the bill was > adequate to protect their interests and activities. > Nevertheless, there appears to be something of a panicked > reaction among people who fear their access to records will > be restricted. So I have directed that the bill be amended > to state expressly that copies of records are available to > researchers. However, such persons must submit an official > request so that record-keepers can record the names and > addresses of those who receive the records. > I hope this amendment will satisfy everyone concerned - the > many who politely suggested changes and the few who > not-so-politely expressed their outrage. > I wish you happy rooting in the past and even happier results. > > Sincerely, > Joan M. Quigley > Assemblywoman

I am glad to hear there is responsiveness here. But I still have lots of questions -- as I have said before, research does not mean submitting a request for a copy of a document you already know about. Research means viewing many records and indices, in order to put two and two together, see patterns, decide how the pieces fit together. It may mean looking at all the Browns in a county for a 30 year time-frame, for example. Once you have reached the point of knowing who to request a certificate for, much research has been completed. Research and documentation are two different steps for genealogists, although they may overlap. If Joan Quigley is saying that researchers can submit a request to do research in the records (which I assume could translate into what we do now at the Archives, filling out multiple registrations, in the lobby and upstairs in the research room and getting a card) that is great. If she is meaning that each certificate must be requested, that will pretty much preclude "research". Also, most states put some sort of time-frame on each type of record, before which they are "open". She doesn't mention anything about that. Holly East Bangor, PA (just over the river -- almost NJ!) > > -----Original Message----- > > From: GmDjones51@aol.com [mailto:GmDjones51@aol.com] > > Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 9:03 AM > > To: jmlowry@earthlink.net > > Subject: Assemblywoman Quigley's reply > > > > > > > Dear Mr. Jones: > > > It was never our intent to make it difficult or impossible > > for legitimate genealogists and family researchers to obtain > > information about births and deaths. The attorneys who > > drafted A-1390 had assured me the wording of the bill was > > adequate to protect their interests and activities. > > Nevertheless, there appears to be something of a panicked > > reaction among people who fear their access to records will > > be restricted. So I have directed that the bill be amended > > to state expressly that copies of records are available to > > researchers. However, such persons must submit an official > > request so that record-keepers can record the names and > > addresses of those who receive the records. > > > I hope this amendment will satisfy everyone concerned - the > > many who politely suggested changes and the few who > > not-so-politely expressed their outrage. > > > I wish you happy rooting in the past and even happier results. > > > > Sincerely, > > Joan M. Quigley > > Assemblywoman > > > > ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== > Visit our Collections Guide: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/collectionguide.html > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx