Page 21 - NCISS Your Advocate April-Spring 2022

Legislative Update from NCISS Legislative Committee and Lobbyit

Michigan Courts – Searches, Redacted and Denied Information
(Tina Thomas – Subrosa Investigations – AZ & MI, Kelly Cory – Keystone Investigations – CA, and Steve Rambam –
Pallorium – NY)

Tina Thomas shared a letter, dated 03/08/2022 citing a policy effective later – 03/31/2022 – and immediately acting to
deny searches and copies of court records. Specifically, “Effective March 31, 2022, Lake County Trial Court will no longer
perform searches/reproduction of documents. If you still wish to search any defendants you can contact the Michigan
State Police, to see if they can assist you.” Professional investigators check all sources, and know a single source does not
have every record. This is being researched by the Michigan Council of Professional Investigators (MCPI).

Kelly Cory shared an update from Michigan state courts, effective 04/01/2022, specific to redaction of DOBs from all
court records. The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) has implemented an Authorized User List allowing access to
DOBs. The registration process is being handled through an online platform. It is yet to be determined how individual
courts will interpret and enact this new rule.

Related to this, Steve Rambam recently shared his experience, reporting if you become an "authorized person" you can
still get that info. The Michigan State Court Administration Office (MI SCAO) has created a process through which court
researchers can be vetted and approved ahead of time to access a party’s date of birth in court records for the purposes
of verifying identity at Consent Verification Registration (michigan.gov), and includes a List of Authorized Individuals. As
Steve noted, under the circumstances this is good news, and this appears to be a win for our industry, for now – thanks
to several state associations working together. The bad news is, of course, that the trend to close and redact public
records will continue.

The NCISS Legislative Advisory Board (LAB) assists supporting member state associations!
Is your state and association represented?

NCISS extends its appreciation to members and associations. NCISS has a strong relationship with our members and
associations. Learn more about NCISS and join at www.NCISS.org/join-nciss and Member’s Section www.NCISS.org/login.

Since 2019 NCISS has been closely monitoring the growing tide of anti Private Investigator media, in particular to close
access to restricted public records – records of importance to every NCISS member and their clients. Records which are
public, and restricted due to the nature of the information contained – such as personal identifiers. Since the September
Your Advocate, NCISS advised members of these increased attacks. As predicted then, beginning in January this activity
increased in Congress and in almost every state – including yours.

NCISS has been working closely with state associations and their legislative committees to develop responses and
strategies to these attacks. As a member, NCISS has communicated these regularly – and in this issue we will include
previous articles as reminders, as well as current articles and activities – and ask you to be ready for a Call to Action.

Your lobbyist in Washington DC is no longer warning of these legislative actions – they are actively upon us, and change
daily (during the course of preparing this issue were several changes – good and bad).

YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IS NEEDED NOW!!

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