HEIRLOOM BIRTH & MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES TO FUND GENEALOGY PROJECTS
House Bill 6162
Sponsor: Rep. Thomas M. George
Committee: Commerce
Complete to 9-13-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6162 AS INTRODUCED 6-4-02
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide for the issuance of heirloom marriage certificates and heirloom birth certificates. Such certificates would be issued upon request and upon a payment of a fee to be established by the Department of Community Health. Revenue from the fees would go to a newly created Genealogy Projects Fund, and money in the fund would be earmarked for use by the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries on department programs related to genealogy. The heirloom certificates would be available in addition to the original marriage license certificate or original birth record copies and certificates.
Each kind of heirloom certificate would have to be 1) in a form consistent with the need to protect the integrity of vital records; and 2) suitable for display. The certificates could bear the seal of the state and could be signed by the governor. The heirloom certificates would have the same status in evidence as original certificates.
The Department of Community Health would have to promulgate rules to establish the amount of the fee for each separate design of an heirloom certificate of marriage or an heirloom certificate of birth. Each fee would have to be in an amount more than the estimated actual cost to the department of a similar design, not to exceed the estimated fair market value of a comparable artistic rendition. The state registrar would have to transmit fees to the state treasurer for deposit in the Genealogy Projects Fund. The state treasurer would direct the investment of the fund and credit interest and earnings from the investments to the fund. The fund, which the bill would create, could also receive gifts and other money. The unencumbered balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year would remain in the fund and not revert to the general fund.
MCL 333.2862 and 2882a
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.