A great job - well done. Jackie Deffes At 08:10 PM 5/12/99 -0700, you wrote: >Howdy Fellow Genealogists. > >Today was a good day in Texas for genealogists. >Thanks to all those who called, emailed or faxed. >The following update come from our man in Austin, John Miller, President of >the Austin Gen Soc. >Trey > > >On Wednesday morning, May 12th (today) the >Senate Human Services Committee voted out favorably the substitute bill >sponsored by Senator Judy Zaffirini. It clearly states that Summary Indexes >(only name, date and event-place) are Open Records. Also, that the Bill is >applicable to Local Registrars and Bureau of Vital Statistics. If a record >would give any information about adoption, parental determination or adoption >placement that record would be Closed. I went to the Bureau of Vital >Statistics, talked to a supervisor and showed her the language in the draft >bill. She told me that there is nothing in the Summary Index that would >cause the record to be closed and she didn't have any problem with the >wording. > >Not that it is a big deal, but some clean-up language starts the clock >running for the 50/25 years on the event date, not date of filing. > >The General Index is closed except to "Qualified Applicants" for the 50/25 >year periods. Qualified Applicants are defined in the statues to include the >registrant, a member of the immediate family, a guardian or legal >representative. > >So o o, "we" headed off the bad guy at the pass and it should be easy >sailing. Sen. Z commented that the Committee received about 40 call and >letters. That got their attention so she pulled the Bill last week and wrote >a substitute Bill which answered our objections. A Committee staffer, >Sophia, was extremely helpful with phone calls and faxes of drafts to me, >requesting my comments. I appeared before the Committee this morning and >thanked them for their efforts on our behalf. > >>From the Committee, the Bill goes to the Senate's local and uncontested >calender and should be passed easily next week. Then it goes back to the >House for their vote. Rep. King (the original author of the Bill) has been >advised along the way and is expected to concur with the substitution. With >his approval, it should be passed by the House. Then to Governor Bush for >his signature. You can check the Legislative Web Page to track the status >of H.B. 836. > >Folks, its been fun, and an education. Thanks to one and all for your >efforts. Hope we don't have to reconvene in two years. Good hunting! > >John Miller >Austin Genealogical Society > >