VITAL RECORDS:  CLARIFY WHO CAN RECEIVE

House Bill 4233

Sponsor:  Rep. Bruce Caswell

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 2-13-08

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4233 AS INTRODUCED 2-6-07

The bill would amend the Public Health Code (MCL 333.2882) to require the state registrar or local registrar to issue, upon written request and payment of the prescribed fee, a certified copy of a marriage application to the bride or groom, or a parent, named on the application.  The bill would also allow a custodian of an individual to request and be issued a certified copy of the individual's birth record.  Further, the bill would make editorial revisions for clarification regarding who would be authorized to request a birth record of a stillbirth.  A certificate of stillbirth filed after June 1, 2003, could be requested and issued to a parent named on the record, an heir of a parent named on the record, or a court of competent jurisdiction.

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4233, as introduced, will generate costs and revenues related to new requests for vital records services provided by the Department and local governments for certified copies of applications for marriage licenses.  The fee for one certified copy from the state Department of Community Health is currently $26.00 as established in Sec. 2891 of the Public Health Code (last increased December 2004).  Local registrars determine the fee for requests made at the local level.  Vital records fee revenue does not fully support program costs, so this bill may increase staffing needs for the Department if these functions cannot be performed with existing personnel and resources.  The Department indicates that it does not anticipate any increase in costs due to HB 4233.  It appears that there will be no change in state and local costs related to retention of marriage license application documents. 

It is uncertain how many requests will be made for this information.  In 2006, 59,400 marriages took place in Michigan.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ 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.