Researcher: JS Page 1 4/6/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 916
AN ACT CONCERNING FEES FOR CERTIFIED COPIES OF VITAL
RECORDS SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLDIERS,
SAILORS AND MARINES FUND.
SUMMARY
This bill requires municipalities and the Department of Public
Health (DPH) to waive the fee for certified copies of vital records
related to a person’s application for assistance from the Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines Fund, if the person provides a copy of his or her
application. Existing law allows a deceased veteran’s spouse, child, or
parent to receive one certified copy of a death certificate for free.
By law, vital records are a certificate of birth, death, fetal death, or
marriage (CGS § 7-36). The fee for a municipal certified copy of a long
form birth certificate is $20 and a DPH-issued one is $30. A certified
copy of a marriage, civil union, or death certificate is $20 at both the
state and municipal levels (CGS § 7-74(a) & (b)).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021
BACKGROUND
Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund
By law, this fund provides temporary aid (e.g., food, clothing, and
medical and surgical aid), general care and relief, or burial expenses to
needy honorably discharged in-state wartime veterans or certain
family members (CGS § 27-138 et seq.).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 17 Nay 0 (03/18/2021)