HP0314, LD 388, item 1, An Act To Allow a Personal Representative To Obtain a Copy of a Death Certificate and To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To Amend Its Rules Governing Vital Records Fees

An Act To Allow a Personal Representative To Obtain a Copy of a Death Certificate and To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To Amend Its Rules Governing Vital Records Fees

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2706, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 601, §12, is further amended to read:

5. Records disclosed. Vital records of a person must be made available at any reasonable time upon that person's request or the request of that person's spouse, registered domestic partner, descendants, parents or guardians or a personal representative designated in that person's will or that person's duly designated attorney or agent or attorney for an agent designated by that person or by a court having jurisdiction over that person whether the request be made in person, by mail, by telephone or otherwise, if the state registrar is satisfied as to the identity of the requester and, if an attorney or agent, if the state registrar is satisfied as to the attorney or agent's authority to act as that person's agent or attorney. If the agent or attorney has been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, or the attorney or agent's appearance for the person is entered therein, the state registrar shall upon request so ascertain by telephone call to the register, clerk or recorder of the court, and this must be deemed sufficient justification to compel compliance with the request for the record. The state registrar shall, as soon as possible, designate persons in the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics who may act in the state registrar's absence or, in case of the state registrar's disqualification, to carry out the intent of this subsection. A record of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce or domestic partner registration may be disclosed as necessary for the department to carry out its responsibilities.

Sec. 2. Rules. The Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics shall amend its rules governing vital records fees to provide that a researcher identification card is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and to reduce the fee for registration of a researcher identification card to $25 for a person who is a dues-paying member of a genealogical society or organization.

summary

This bill allows a personal representative to obtain a copy of the death certificate of the person who made the will designating that personal representative. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics to amend its rules governing vital records fees to provide that a researcher identification card is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and to reduce the fee for registration of a researcher identification card to $25 for a person who is a dues-paying member of a genealogical society or organization.

HP0314 LD 388	First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature		LR 724 Item 1
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