2025 -- H 5871

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LC001415

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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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

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     (Dept. of Health)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-3-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3 entitled "Vital

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Records" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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 Transfer of public historical documents.

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     (a) At the end of each calendar year, original records of births and marriages that have

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occurred one hundred (100) years or more from the date of transfer and deaths that have occurred

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fifty (50) years or more from the date of transfer, shall be permanently transferred by the state

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registrar of vital records to the custody of the state archives under control of the secretary of state

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who may promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to these public historical documents. In order

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to preserve the integrity of historical public vital records, which are maintained at the Rhode Island

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state archives, public historical vital records shall not be amended. Prior to transferring the records

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to the state archives, the division of vital records shall ensure that an electronic copy of the records

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is provided to all local registrars for the purpose of issuance of accurate copies, or certified copies,

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to the public as authorized by law.

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     (b) Amendments to records on file with the local registrar, which are not available in

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electronic format, shall be forwarded upon amendment to the local registrar for the purpose of

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issuance of accurate copies, or certified copies, to the public as authorized by law.

 

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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 provide that public historical vital records maintained by the state archives

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shall not be amended.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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