WSR 98-07-079
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed March 17, 1998, 4:28 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Rules providing for the release of paper or electronic copies of birth certificate records that include adequate standards for security and confidentiality, assure the proper record is identified, and prevent fraudulent use of records
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.58.082
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Chapter 108, Laws of 1997 (HB 1930), required the department to adopt rules "providing for the release of paper or electronic copies of birth certificate records that include adequate standards for security, assure the proper record is identified, and prevent fraudulent use of records." The Center for Health Statistics has established policy on the release of records that include adequate standards for security and assurance that the proper record is identified that prevent fraudulent use of records. These policies have been transgressed because they have no status in law. The state legislature has seen the need to strengthen the authority around the release of birth certificates. The goal will be to put the current policies into rule
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No federal or other state agency regulates this process. The process is, however, regulated through the authority of deputy registrars at local health departments. The Centers for Disease Control/National Center for Health Statistics provides guidance. The department will work with local health departments to gain input for the rule language
Process for Developing New Rule: The center will engage interested parties (such as media representatives, genealogists, and privacy advocates) and representatives from local health departments for input into the rule language
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Teresa Jennings, Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, Mailstop 7814, Olympia, Washington 98504, (360) 586-6779, FAX (360) 753-4135, TDD Relay 1-800-833-6388
March 17, 1998
Bruce A. Miyahara
Secretary