FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1269

                         C 223 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing moneys for the death investigations account.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by  Representatives Robertson, Costa, Scott, Tokuda, Delvin and L. Thomas).

House Committee on Law & Justice

House Committee on Finance

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  In 1983, the Legislature established the death investigations account to fund various activities associated with death investigations.  Specifically, the account funds the state toxicology laboratory, the state forensic investigations council, and other activities such as reimbursing counties for the cost of autopsies.

The account is funded from part of the fees received for copies of vital records.  Vital records are records of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, dissolution, annulment, and legal separation. 

The Department of Health (DOH) charges a fee of $11 for certified copies of vital records.  The entire amount of the fee is turned over to the state treasurer.  Local registrars also charge $11 for copies of vital records other than death certificates.  For death certificates, local registers charge $11 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.  Local registrars must turn over all but $3 of the fee collected for a copy of a vital record to the local health department.  The remaining $3 is turned over to the state treasurer.

The state treasurer must hold the $3 fee received form local registrars, and $3 of the $11 fee received from the DOH, in the death investigations account. 

Summary:  The fee charged by the DOH and local registrars for copies of vital records is increased to $13.  The fee charged by local registrars for additional copies of a death certificate ordered at the same time as the first copy is increased to $8.

The portion of the fee charged for a copy of a vital record that is turned over to the state treasurer and held in the death investigations account is increased to $5.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  95 3

Senate 40 9

Effective:July 27,  1997