Important message for you to read! *************************************** --- "Karen S. Smith" <chapter-channel@ogs.org> wrote: >From Karen S. Smith Wed Apr 30 17:09:39 2003 >From: "Karen S. Smith" <chapter-channel@ogs.org> >To: ccogw@yahoo.com >Subject: Ohio Genealogical Society Chapter Channel >Special Edition - 4/30/03 >Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 20:09:39 -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* > _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail