The following announcement was posted to the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies’ Public Records Access Monitoring Committee’s mailing list and is republished here with permission:

A hearing has been scheduled for the bill, LD 601 An Act Regarding Indices of Vital Records, regarding indices to certificates and records of marriage, intentions to marry, domestic partnerships and death including fetal death from 1892 to the present to be open to the public without restrictions. Indices to certificates and records of birth are to be open at the municipal and state levels after 75 years from the date of birth.

The hearing is on Wednesday March 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM. On the current agenda it is the third bill to be heard. IAJGS is supporting the bill while inquiring why birth indices are not being treated the same as the other indices, that is open without any embargo period.

The bill may be read at: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0240&item=1&snum=130

To read the previous postings about the Maine bill and vital records go to the archives of the IAJGS Records Access Alert at: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/private/records-access-alerts/. You must be registered to access the archives. To register go to: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/listinfo/records-access-alerts and follow the instructions to enter your email address, full name and which genealogical organization with whom you are affiliated You will receive an email response that you have to reply to or the subscription will not be finalized.

Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee