2023 -- H 5724

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LC001258

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VITAL RECORDS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Terri-Denise Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 23-3-5.1 and 23-3-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3 entitled

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"Vital Records" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-3-5.1. Transfer of public historical documents.

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     At the end of each calendar year, records of births and marriages which have occurred one

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hundred (100) years or more from the date of transfer and deaths which have occurred fifty (50)

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years or more from the date of transfer, shall be permanently transferred by the state registrar of

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vital records to the custody of the state archives under control of the secretary of state who may

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promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to these public historical documents. Prior to

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transferring the records to the state archives, the division of vital records shall ensure that the

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records are accessible to the local registrars for the purpose of issuance of accurate records to the

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public as authorized by law.

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     23-3-24. Copies of data from vital records.

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     In accordance with § 23-3-23 and the regulations adopted pursuant to that section:

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     (1) The state registrar of vital records shall upon request issue a certified copy of any

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certificate or record in his or her custody or a part thereof. Each copy issued shall show the date of

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registration; and copies issued from records marked “delayed,” “amended,” or “court order” shall

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be similarly marked and show the effective date. Any copies issued of a “certificate of foreign

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birth” shall indicate this fact and show the actual place of birth.

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     (2) The custodian of permanent local records local registrars shall upon request issue a

 

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certified copy of any certificate or record in his or her custody or to which he or she has access only

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in a form that shall be prescribed by the state director of health.

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     (3) A certified copy of a certificate or any part thereof, issued in accordance with

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subdivision (1) or (2) of this section, shall be considered for all purposes the same as the original,

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and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the certificate, provided that the evidentiary

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value of a certificate or record filed more than one year after the event, or a record which has been

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amended, or a “certificate of foreign birth,” shall be determined by the judicial or administrative

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body or official before whom the certificate is offered as evidence.

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     (4) The National Office of Vital Statistics may be furnished copies or data that it may

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require for national statistics; provided, that the state shall be reimbursed for the cost of furnishing

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the data; and provided further, that the data shall not be used for other than statistical purposes by

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the National Office of Vital Records unless so authorized by the state registrar of vital records.

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     (5) Federal, state, local, and other public or private agencies may, upon request, be

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furnished copies or data for statistical purposes upon terms or conditions that may be prescribed by

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the state director of health.

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     (6) No person shall prepare or issue any certificate which purports to be an original certified

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copy, or copy of a certificate of birth, death, or fetal death, except as authorized in this chapter or

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regulations adopted under this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VITAL RECORDS

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     This act would require the division of vital records to ensure that the records are accessible

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to the local registrars and grant local registrars the authority to issue certified copies of certificates

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and records.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001258

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