Vital records-amendments.

23LSO-0601
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0601
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0248

Vital records-amendments.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Zwonitzer, Dn and Chadwick and Senator(s) Case

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to vital records; clarifying that vital records include vital records contained in books; clarifying the scope, duties and responsibilities of local officials who participate in activities associated with vital records; providing and amending definitions; removing obsolete language; establishing a deadline for certifying death files; clarifying requirements for unifying marriages; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 35
‑
1
‑
401(a)(i) through (iv) and by creating new paragraphs (xvii) through (xix), 35
‑
1
‑
404(a)(iv), 35
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1
‑
414 and 35
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1
‑
422 by creating a new subsection (c) are amended to read:

35
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1
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401.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(i)

"Vital records" means records of birth, death, stillbirth, marriage
,

and
divorce
,

and
including
data
and any books
relating thereto;

(ii)

"System of vital records" includes the registration, collection, preservation, amendment
,
and certification of vital records and activities related thereto including the tabulation, analysis
,
and publication of statistical data derived from
such
books and
records;

(iii)

"Filing" means the presentation of a
book,
certificate, report, or other record of a birth, death, stillbirth, adoption, marriage
,
or divorce, for registration by vital records services;

(iv)

"Registration" means the acceptance by vital records services and the incorporation in its official records of certificates, reports or other records of births, deaths, stillbirths, adoption, marriages,
marriage books
and divorces;

(xvii)

"Local official" means a person elected or appointed to an office in a county, city or town and who is responsible for filing, registering or otherwise participating in the operation of the vital records system. "Local official" includes but is not limited to county coroners, clerks of district court, county clerks and their deputies;

(xviii)

"Medical coroner" means a county coroner or deputy coroner elected or appointed under W.S. 7
‑
4
‑
101 or 7
‑
4
‑
102;

(xix)

"Reasonable time" means a period of time, not to exceed seventy
‑
two (72) hours after notification of a death or stillbirth occurring, where a medical coroner shall complete the medical certification of death or stillbirth registration.

35
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1
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404.

Duties of state registrar.

(a)

The state registrar shall:

(iv)

Direct, supervise and control the activities of local registrars and the activities of
other
local officials related to the operation of the vital records system
;
and provide them with necessary postage;

35
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1
‑
414.

Delayed registration of death and marriage.

When a death or marriage occurring in this state has not been registered, a certificate may be filed in accordance with
regulations of the division of
rules of the department of
health
.

and medical services.
The certificate shall be registered subject to
such
evidentiary requirements as the
division
department
of health
and medical services
shall by regulation prescribe to substantiate the alleged facts of death or marriage. Certificates of death and marriage registered one (1) year or more after the date of occurrence shall be marked "Delayed" and shall show on their face the date of the delayed registration.
No "delayed" mark shall be shown on the face of any marriage filed and registered from those county books and records not already contained in the system of vital records.

35
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1
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422.

Marriage registration.

(c)

Any returned or recorded marriage license contained in any book or record not already included or contained in the system of vital records shall be forwarded upon request to the state office of vital records for indexing, registration and preservation.

Section 2.

The department of health shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0248