| Sec. 1. Access to vital records study. Resolved: That the Department of |
| Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records shall study |
| the provisions of the freedom of access laws in the Maine Revised |
| Statutes, Title 1, chapter 13 as those laws relate to access to |
| vital records, such as birth, death and marriage certificates, |
| especially in relation to Title 22, section 2706, which allows a |
| state registrar or municipal clerk to restrict access to those |
| vital records. The office shall determine what criteria are used |
| by state registrars and municipal clerks in providing access to |
| vital records. The office shall determine whether a more uniform |
| process is needed to balance the requirements of the freedom of |
| access laws against the prevention of identity theft and the |
| privacy rights of adoptees. If a better process is needed, the |
| office shall determine what the better process is and report by |
| January 4, 2006 to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd |
| Legislature with the office's findings, recommendations and any |
| necessary implementing legislation. |
