SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1930

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Health & Long-Term Care, April 1, 1997

Title:  An act relating to birth certificates.

Brief Description:  Restricting copying of birth certificates.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Chandler, Linville, D. Schmidt and Sheldon).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  3/28/97, 4/1/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Strannigan and Wojahn.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  Notification of births are filed with local registrars.  Original birth certificates are transmitted from local registrars to the Department of Health (DOH).  Certified copies of birth certificates may be obtained through a written request and by paying a fee. 

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Health is to adopt rules providing for the release of electronic copies of birth certificates with standards for security and confidentiality.  All certified copies of birth certificates must be in a format and on paper that incorporates security features to deter alteration without ready detection.

Government agencies may be provided with copies of birth certificates for a fee if they are used for official duties.  DOH may enter into agreements with offices of vital statistics outside of the state for the transmission of birth certificates.

The department may disclose information which may identify a person named in a birth certificate for certain research reasons.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.