HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1930

                       As Passed House

                       March 18, 1997

Title:  An act relating to birth certificates.

Brief Description:  Restricting copying of birth certificates.

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  2/28/97, 3/5/97 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/18/97, 96‑2.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Dunn; Reams; Smith; Wensman and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunshee; Murray and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Birth certificates are filed with local registrars.  Local registrars transmit the original birth certificates to the Department of Health.

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 shall be in a format and paper with security features to deter alteration without ready detection.

Government agencies may be provided with copies of birth certificates if they will be used for their official duties and they pay the appropriate fee.  The Department of Health 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 purposes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  There is a need for security.  People obtain birth certificates and use them to obtain false identification.

Testimony Against:  The original bill has problems; it could jeopardize the ability to get certified copies, and increase costs.

Testified:  Representative Chandler, prime sponsor. 

(Con-original bill)  Elizabeth Ward and Teresa Jennings, Department of Health; Chara Rim, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department; and Carole Blowers, Thurston County Health Department.