>Organization: The Ohio Genealogical Society >From: "Karen S. Smith" <chapter-channel@ogs.org> >Subject: Ohio Genealogical Society Chapter Channel Special Edition - 4/30/03 >Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 20:09:23 -0400 > >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*