This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------F7916E6C18E052AA6F7D55DC Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Please read and take appropriate action --------------F7916E6C18E052AA6F7D55DC Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from bl-11.rootsweb.com ([204.212.38.27]) by mtiwgwc06.worldnet.att.net (InterMail v03.02.07 118 124) with ESMTP id <19990422034539.QINK11801@bl-11.rootsweb.com>; Thu, 22 Apr 1999 03:45:39 +0000 Received: (from slist@localhost) by bl-11.rootsweb.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id UAA06086; Wed, 21 Apr 1999 20:43:28 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 20:43:28 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <B0002492408@hamextw01.htcomp.net> Reply-To: <ecw@htcomp.net> From: "Elreeta Weathers" <ecw@htcomp.net> Old-To: "Hamilton-List" <TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com> Subject: Access to Vital Records in Texas Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 22:45:20 -0500 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1155 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Resent-Message-ID: <aTvwHB.A.5eB.frpH3@bl-11.rootsweb.com> To: TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com Resent-From: TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com X-Mailing-List: <TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/236 X-Loop: TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com Precedence: list Resent-Sender: TXHAMILT-L-request@rootsweb.com From: Bobbie Ross <bwross@htcomp.net> and Coryell County, TX GenWEB This comes under the heading "for your information" and was passed on to me by someone who cares: HI Fellow Genealogists: In case you have not heard there is a bill in the Texas Legislature that might close the indexes to death and birth records in Texas for 25 and 50 years, respectfully. My column on Saturday April 24 will state most of what we know about the bill at this time. The column is already on my website at http://barnettesbooks.com Just click on read the columns. Scroll down and click on April 24. The column was submitted this morning for a Saturday publication date. Since being notified of this bill by Tommy Burns of Houston, I have found out only a little bit more. Supposedly, the bill was submitted to clarify the current law. The intent of the bill was to clarify the existing law and help open birth and death indexes in counties where the county clerk felt they were closed (At the same time, other county clerks felt the indexes were open). While in committee an amendment was placed on the bill stating the indexes would become open and public when the actual records (birth and death records) became open and public. According to the amendment the indexes would be closed for 25-50 years until the records themselves are public. The HB 836 passed the Public Health Committee in the State House of Representatives on March 30. It was referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee. As of today, the bill does not have a Senate sponsor. If we cause enough rancor, it is possible no one will take on the sponsorship of the bill and it will die in committee. On the otherhand, if a sponsor is found, we want to be on record requesting a hearing. At that hearing, we would need to flood the room with genealogists and other concerned citizens. While a law clarifying the present confusing law might be welcome, amendment on HB 836 closes the birth and death indexes until the actual records become public which is 25-50 years. .Monday night I contacted Jack Brissee, Chair of the FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee. Jack and his committee work with genealogists and other organizations all over the country when records are threatened with closure or misuse. He jumped on it and has faxed a letter to the Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee. He has urged everyone to contact all genealogists, genealogical, historical and other concerned organizations to write a calm, collected, but, concerned letter to the Chair of the Senate Affairs Committee and to our own Senator concerning this bill. The Honorable Florence Shapiro Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs P.O.Box 12068 Capital Station Austin, TX 78711 Another bill in the legislature each of you should be aware of is HB13. This bill seeks to allow adoptees to obtain their original birth certificate upon reaching the age of 21. HB13 has met with the hostility of child placement services and birth mothers. Currently it is held up in committee where it may die. Part of the HB 13 awareness may have had some effect on HB 836 because both have to do with vital statistics registration If you wish to pass this letter around, please feel free to do so. I have included this mailing to a number of my columnist colleagues around the country who might wish to be alert to what is happening, down here, in Texas. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who hears any news on this matter. Thank You, MIC Mic Barnette's Writes a Weekly Genealogy Column In The Houston Chronicle. Read it on the Web At Barnette's Family Tree Book Company http://barnettesbooks.com --------------F7916E6C18E052AA6F7D55DC--