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Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2006-02 > 1139333357


From: "Joan M Lowry" <>
Subject: NJ Vital Records Access Threatened
Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 12:29:17 -0500
In-Reply-To: <H-NEW-JERSEY%200602060001330418.0023@H-NET.MSU.EDU>


Hello All

In light of recent discussions on this list regarding NJ Vital Records
access, I thought that you should have more information on the serious
piece of pending legislation that would remove virtually all Vital
Records from the realm of Public Records, Assembly Bill 1390. In
addition to making the records non-public, the bill would further
restrict who would be allowed to obtain copies and would allow only
"viewing" of the records to others.

The bill also would make it against the law to "transfer, sell, share,
reproduce or otherwise disclose the information to another party."
There would be penalties for disclosing the information that could be
serious fines or even jail time. I don't know how anyone can write a
history book, article, or anything else if you can't share the
information, or provide a documented source for the information.

The proposed bill, Assembly Bill 1390, is a product of the Homeland
Security and State Preparedness Committee. You can see the proposed
language at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A1500/1390_I1.PDF.
You can also get there from the Genealogical Society of New Jersey's
website www.gsnj.org by going to the page for Legislative Alerts (the
direct page link is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/legislation.html.)

This bill may be heard by the Assembly as early as March 2. I urge you
to make contact with the sponsors of the bill via fax or email as soon
as possible to ask them to amend the bill. There is a summary sheet on
the GSNJ website that gives more information on the bill and proposed
amended language. There are also sample letters for use by individuals
and by societies and organizations. See the Legislative Alerts page on
the GSNJ website

I would welcome any comments or assistance that can be offered to help
us get the bill changed before it is too late! My email address is:
mailto:

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Joan M. Lowry, President

Genealogical Society of New Jersey
www.gsnj.org



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