ArrayList Please HELP!!

Question

Hey everyone.. I have an application which adds objects ot type "task" to an array list. These task objects will have a task_id, type, state, etc. I am trying to determine how I can look at all items that have been added to he arraylist and retrieve the index for a specific task based on its taskState value. A task could be added to the list with a state of alerting, active, incacive, held, etc. Multiple tasks will be in the taskList at any given time. All I am trying to do is create one or multiple methods that will allow me to go look in to this taskList and retrieve the index of the task that matches the state I am looking for. If anyone could help me out with the syntax of this, I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks all. Bob