The hearing scheduled for this morning has been postponed until next week - please read this forward for details. Gail ----- Original Message ----- From: Aurale Huff <leehuff@gvtc.com> To: <TXGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 1999 8:42 PM Subject: [TXGENWEB] Clarification/Update on HB 836 Vital Records > >From Aurale Huff: > > This did not come over the TXGEN list, so you might want to know > what Shannon Clyde says: > - - - - - - - - -- - - - > >X-Sender: shannonc@wwclyde.com@mail.wwclyde.com > >Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 13:48:25 -0500 > >To: GIBSON-L@rootsweb.com, TXBRAZOS-L-request@rootsweb.com, > > TX-Rooters@genexchange.com, GenExchange-L@genexchange.com, > > GERMAN-TEXAN-L@rootsweb.com, TX-Landmark-L@rootsweb.com > >From: Shannon Clyde <shannonc@wwclyde.com> > >Subject: Clarification/Update on HB 836 Vital Records > > > >Dear folks, > > > >I hope I can clarify and update you on House Bill 836 re. Vital Records in > >Texas, specifically the controversy about the Summary Index. Feel free to > >drop me a line for more information or to clarify anything in this mail. > > > >The Problem: > > > >Birth and Death Records in Texas are sealed for 50 and 25 years > >respectively. This includes the General Index which includes parental data. > >It is not supposed to include the Summary Index which includes Name, Date, > >Place. Some local clerks were not aware of this distinction, or under > >concerns for privacy, closed all Birth and Death information, including the > >Summary Index until they met the 25/50 rule and could be opened. > > > >House Bill 836 authored by the honorable Tracy O. King of Uvalde, Texas was > >created to clarify the appropriate disclosure of the Summary Index. While > >in committee, HB836 was ammended to distinguish between the General Index > >and the Summary Index. An error appears to have been made that instead of > >clarifying the difference, closed all index information with the records, > >tying them to the 25/50 year rule. > > > >The General Index should remain tied to the actual record. This is > >reinforced by existing legistlature (see Administration Code Chapter > >1871.10 http://www.sos.state.tx.us ). This protects against misuse and > >primarily protects the parents of adopted children who wish to remain > >annonymous. > > > >Call To Action: > >Genealogists and others who need public access to the summary index should > >voice their opinion with the chairperson of the Senate Human Services, > >Honorable Ms. Judith Zaffirini and the author of the bill, Honorable Tracy > >O. King. The persons handling this legislation in their offices are: > > > >For Zaffirini: Sophia - phone:512-463-0121 > >For King: Amy - phone 512-463-0742 > > > >Please reinforce that we must keep the Summary Index open to the public. > > > >Update: > >I spoke with Sophia in the office of the Honorable Ms. Zaffirini. Sophia > >explained that they have decided to postpone public hearing until next week > >so that they have time to fix the error in the ammendement. > > > >I hope this helps. > > > >regards, > > > >Shannon Clyde > >http://wwclyde.com/gibsonfamily > >http://wwclyde.com/clydefamily > >http://wwclyde.com/wealesfamily > > > > > > > ==== TXGEN Mailing List ==== > The TXGEN-L/TXGEN-D mailing list is for announcements and the > discussion of issues concerning the volunteers of The TXGenWeb Project. > This is NOT the proper list for posting genealogical research queries. >