| Chapter 051 |
| 2024 -- S 2274 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED Enacted 06/04/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VITAL RECORDS |
Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Ciccone, Britto, Zurier, Acosta, and F. Lombardi |
| Date Introduced: February 12, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Sections 23-3-5.1 and 23-3-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3 entitled |
| "Vital Records" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 23-3-5.1. Transfer of public historical documents. |
| (a) At the end of each calendar year, original records of births and marriages which that |
| have occurred one hundred (100) years or more from the date of transfer and deaths which that |
| have occurred fifty (50) years or more from the date of transfer, shall be permanently transferred |
| by the state registrar of vital records to the custody of the state archives under control of the |
| secretary of state who may promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to these public historical |
| documents. Prior to transferring the records to the state archives, the division of vital records shall |
| ensure that an electronic copy of the records is provided to all local registrars for the purpose of |
| issuance of accurate copies, or certified copies, to the public as authorized by law. |
| (b) Amendments to records on file with the local registrar, which are not available in |
| electronic format, shall be forwarded upon amendment to the local registrar for the purpose of |
| issuance of accurate copies, or certified copies, to the public as authorized by law. |
| 23-3-24. Copies of data from vital records. |
| In accordance with § 23-3-23 and the regulations adopted pursuant to that section: |
| (1) The state registrar of vital records shall upon request issue a certified copy of any |
| certificate or record in his or her the registrar’s custody or a part thereof. Each copy issued shall |
| show the date of registration; and copies issued from records marked “delayed,” “amended,” or |
| “court order” shall be similarly marked and show the effective date. Any copies issued of a |
| “certificate of foreign birth” shall indicate this fact and show the actual place of birth. |
| (2) The custodian of permanent local records local registrars shall upon request issue a |
| certified copy of any certificate or record in his or her the local registrar’s custody or to which the |
| local registrar has access only in a form that shall be prescribed by the state director of health or |
| the state archives under the control of the secretary of state, following transfer pursuant to § 23-3- |
| 5.1. |
| (3) A certified copy of a certificate or any part thereof, issued in accordance with |
| subdivision (1) or (2) of this section, shall be considered for all purposes the same as the original, |
| and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the certificate, provided that the evidentiary |
| value of a certificate or record filed more than one year after the event, or a record which that has |
| been amended, or a “certificate of foreign birth,” shall be determined by the judicial or |
| administrative body or official before whom the certificate is offered as evidence. |
| (4) The National Office of Vital Statistics may be furnished copies or data that it may |
| require for national statistics; provided, that the state shall be reimbursed for the cost of furnishing |
| the data; and provided further, that the data shall not be used for other than statistical purposes by |
| the National Office of Vital Records unless so authorized by the state registrar of vital records. |
| (5) Federal, state, local, and other public or private agencies may, upon request, be |
| furnished copies or data for statistical purposes upon terms or conditions that may be prescribed by |
| the state director of health. |
| (6) No person shall prepare or issue any certificate which purports to be an original certified |
| copy, or copy of a certificate of birth, death, or fetal death, except as authorized in this chapter or |
| regulations adopted under this chapter. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC003951/SUB A |
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