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From: Sharon Sergeant <>
Subject: [APG] 2003 Massachusetts Vital Records closing legislation
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 17:53:48 -0800 (PST)


Hello

The 2002 Massachusetts legislative activities presented a challenging environment for
genealogists. The Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC) managed to prevent several end-run
efforts to close vital records and initiate more awareness of the genealogical community within
the legislature. Some legislators are beginning to understand that genealogists represent a large
number of their constituents - and are more likely to be voters than the general public.

While Identity Theft and Fraud concerns were stated goals for vital records closing measures in
2002 - despite numerous studies that point to other, much more effective fraud techniques - there
was a backroom myth circulating in the legislature about Federal funds being tied to such
measures. The impending crisis of 2002 budget issues made this myth quite appealing - lending
credibility without source citations and proof - a problem that genealogists are quite familiar
with.

The 2003 Massachusetts budget crisis has brought the financial difficulties into focus. A special
Massachusetts Senate committee issued "A Report of the Special Committee to Recommend Mitigation
for Local Aid Cuts" with the following recommendation:
Relating to Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (HD2428)
-The bill relating to the birth, death and marriage records would permit the development of a
statewide database to serve the needs of the public.
-Through a surcharge on certified copies of vital records, the state projects income of $1.28
million in the first year, rising to $2.09 million in the seventh year, with surpluses ranging
from $327,000 to $663,000. (see http://www.stanrosenberg.com/mitigation.html )

Newspaper reports suggest that this "surcharge" is actually a simple doubling of the certified
vital records copy costs - but we have no reports that the fee changes have actually been
implemented yet.

However, bills filed in the 2003 legislature session present a murkier picture. The MGC has found
14 bills affecting vital records so far. Several close vital records! Come to the MGC annual
Meeting and Seminar or join MGC to recieve newslettters for details of this complex legislative
session - see http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm

The following is a list of pending vital records bills based on the efforts of several
Massachusetts genealogists - each of whom got only some of the bills presented from State House
and representative sources:

The MGC created Senate Bill 405 AN ACT RELATIVE TO BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH RECORDS a petition of
Susan C. Fargo, Charles E. Shannon, Susan W. Pope, Robert L. Hedlund and other members of the
General Court. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00405.htm

Senate Bill 408 RELATIVE TO THE MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN RECORDS a petition of Guy W. Glodis, Bruce
E. Tarr, Brian A. Joyce, Anthony J. Verga and John P. Fresolo for legislation relative to the
management of adoption records by city and town clerks
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00408.htm

Senate Bill 443 AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE USE OF ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED VITAL RECORDS a petition of
Michael W. Morrissey most notably mentions: "Special certified copy", may include, but are not
limited to, professional, personal or genealogical research.
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00443.htm

Senate Bill 533 AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE ELIMINATION OF RESEARCH FEES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH'S VITAL RECORDS DEPARTMENT a petition of Irving R. Murstein and Robert L. Hedlund
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00533.htm

House Bill 143 Petition of William M. Straus for legislation to regulate the use of social
security numbers for identification purposes in the Commonwealth
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h00143.htm

House Bill 545 Petition of Thomas P. Kennedy and Robert S. Creedon, Jr., relative to the issuance
of certified birth records to Native Americans ( to correct the race listed on their birth
certificates at no charge when proof is presented).
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h00545.htm

House Bill 1085 Petition of Elizabeth Poirier, Jo Ann Sprague, Michael J. Coppola, Scott P. Brown,
Martin J. Walsh and Shirley Gomes relative to access to birth records of certain persons born out
of wedlock (opens records in those cases where the father's name is listed).
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01085.htm

House Bill 1321 of J. James Marzilli, Jr. relative to the treatment of vital records of certain
non-marital children. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01321.htm

House Bill 1465 Petition of Daniel E. Bosley relating to birth, marriage and death records [This
is a resubmission of the onerous July 2002 version of the H5158 bill which last year passed the
House and was blocked in the Senate.] http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01465.htm

House Bill 1656 Petition of of Peter V. Kocot relative to the issuance of certified birth records
to Native Americans. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01656.htm

House Bill 1661 Petition of Anthony J. Verga and Christopher P. Asselin relative to disclosure of
information concerning certain birth, marriage and death records - closes all birth records after
1913 and all marriage and death records after 1953, such that only immediate family or
representatives may access either the indices, the records or the certificates at the discretion
of the custodian. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h01661.htm

House Bill 2233 Petition of Thomas J. O'Brien, other members of the House and another relative to
birth, marriage and death records [also closes vital records]
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h02233.htm

House Bill 2459 Petition of Paul C. Casey relative to the issuance of certain birth and marriage
records - exempts vital records recorded before 1 Jan 1841 [that is, before reporting to the
state was required] and those for which volunteer waivers were registered from Section 2A of
chapter 46 of the General Laws. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h02459.htm

House Bill 3147 Petition of Brian S. Dempsey for legislation to further regulate the issuance of
death certificates. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/history/h03147.htm

Only the Senate bills' text is available online. You must contact your legislator for copies of
the House bills.


Join us for our annual meeting!

MASSACHUSETTS GENEALOGICAL COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING AND SEMINAR

Saturday, March 29, 2003 8am-4pm

Alumnae Hall, Regis College, 235 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA

Annual Meeting with Update on Public Records Issues and Legislation, led by Bernie Couming,
President of the Massachusetts Genealogical Council

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK: RECORDS RESOURCES AND ISSUES IN MASSACHUSETTS TOWN AND CITIES
by Peter Koutoujian, retired Waltham MA City Clerk

USING PHOTOGRAPHS TO GATHER ORAL HISTORY: STIRRING MEMORIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS by Ruth
Tomasian, Project SAVE

Continental Breakfast and Lunch included, Society and Vendor Booth space available

GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS FOR RECORDS PRESERVATION : WASHINGTON COUNTY MAINE RECORDS PRESERVATION
FUND MODEL by Sharon Howland, WKRP

READ BETWEEN THE LINES: GETTING THE MOST OUT OF NEWSPAPER RESEARCH by David Allen Lambert, NEHGS
Reference Librarian

The cost, including continental breakfast and cafeteria lunch, is $20 for 2003 members and $30 for
non-members. For more information, please visit http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm for
details!or call (781) 209-8861 or email

Kind Regards,
Sharon Sergeant, MGC Director of Programs

Permission to redistribute is granted in advance.


=====
Sharon Sergeant
Ancestors and Ephemera
http://GenealogyFair.com
Bring Your Ancestors Home!

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