| Chapter 393 |
| 2025 -- H 5871 Enacted 07/02/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VITAL RECORDS |
Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Shanley, Tanzi, Dawson, Handy, and McGaw |
| Date Introduced: February 28, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 23-3-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3 entitled "Vital |
| Records" is 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 Transfer of public historical documents.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 that have |
| occurred one hundred (100) years or more from the date of transfer and deaths 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| who may promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to these public historical documents. In order |
| to preserve the integrity of historical public vital records, which are maintained at the Rhode Island |
| state archives, public historical vital records shall not be amended. 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. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC001415 |
| ======== |