HB2841 EnrolledLRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 AN ACT concerning health. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Vital Records Act is amended by changing 5 Section 25 and by adding Section 25.6 as follows: 6 (410 ILCS 535/25) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73-25) 7 Sec. 25. In accordance with Section 24 of this Act, and the 8 regulations adopted pursuant thereto: 9 (1) The State Registrar of Vital Records shall search 10 the files of birth, death, and fetal death records, upon 11 receipt of a written request and a fee of $10 from any 12 applicant entitled to such search. A search fee shall not 13 be required for commemorative birth certificates issued by 14 the State Registrar. A search fee shall not be required 15 for a birth record search from a person (1) upon release on 16 parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or 17 pardon from the Department of Corrections if the person 18 presents a prescribed verification form completed by the 19 Department of Corrections verifying the person's date of 20 birth and social security number, or (2) placed on 21 aftercare release under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, 22 upon release on parole, mandatory supervised release, 23 final discharge, or pardon from the Department of Juvenile HB2841 Enrolled LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 2 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 Justice if the person presents a prescribed verification 2 form completed by the Department of Juvenile Justice 3 verifying the person's date of birth and social security 4 number; however, the person is entitled to only one search 5 fee waiver. If, upon search, the record requested is 6 found, the State Registrar shall furnish the applicant one 7 certification of such record, under the seal of such 8 office. If the request is for a certified copy of the 9 record an additional fee of $5 shall be required. An 10 additional fee for a certified copy of the record shall 11 not be required from a person (1) upon release on parole, 12 mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon 13 from the Department of Corrections if the person presents 14 a prescribed verification form completed by the Department 15 of Corrections verifying the released person's date of 16 birth and social security number, or (2) placed on 17 aftercare release under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, 18 upon release on parole, mandatory supervised release, 19 final discharge, or pardon from the Department of Juvenile 20 Justice if the person presents a prescribed verification 21 form completed by the Department of Juvenile Justice 22 verifying the person's date of birth and social security 23 number; however, the person is entitled to only one 24 certified copy fee waiver. If the request is for a 25 certified copy of a death certificate or a fetal death 26 certificate, an additional fee of $2 is required. The HB2841 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 3 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 3 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 3 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 additional fee shall be deposited into the Death 2 Certificate Surcharge Fund. A further fee of $2 shall be 3 required for each additional certification or certified 4 copy requested. If the requested record is not found, the 5 State Registrar shall furnish the applicant a 6 certification attesting to that fact, if so requested by 7 the applicant. A further fee of $2 shall be required for 8 each additional certification that no record has been 9 found. 10 Any local registrar or county clerk shall search the 11 files of birth, death and fetal death records, upon 12 receipt of a written request from any applicant entitled 13 to such search. If upon search the record requested is 14 found, such local registrar or county clerk shall furnish 15 the applicant one certification or certified copy of such 16 record, under the seal of such office, upon payment of the 17 applicable fees. If the requested record is not found, the 18 local registrar or county clerk shall furnish the 19 applicant a certification attesting to that fact, if so 20 requested by the applicant and upon payment of applicable 21 fee. The local registrar or county clerk must charge a $2 22 fee for each certified copy of a death certificate. The 23 fee is in addition to any other fees that are charged by 24 the local registrar or county clerk. The additional fees 25 must be transmitted to the State Registrar monthly and 26 deposited into the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund. The HB2841 Enrolled - 3 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 4 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 local registrar or county clerk may charge fees for 2 providing other services for which the State Registrar may 3 charge fees under this Section. 4 Upon receipt of a written request from any applicant 5 entitled to such a search, a local registrar or county 6 clerk shall search available files for the death 7 certificate of an active duty or retired service member of 8 the United States military. If the death certificate 9 requested by the applicant is found, the local registrar 10 or county clerk shall furnish the applicant with one 11 certified copy of the death certificate, under the seal of 12 the local registrar's or county clerk's office, at no cost 13 to the applicant. If the requested death certificate of 14 the service member is not found, the local registrar or 15 county clerk shall furnish the applicant, at no cost, with 16 certification attesting to that fact if so requested by 17 the applicant. A local registrar or county clerk shall not 18 require a fee from the applicant of more than $6 for any 19 subsequent copy of the service member's death certificate 20 or certification attesting that the death certificate of 21 the service member was not found. 22 A request to any custodian of vital records for a 23 search of the death record indexes for genealogical 24 research shall require a fee of $10 per name for a 5 year 25 search. An additional fee of $1 for each additional year 26 searched shall be required. If the requested record is HB2841 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 5 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 5 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 5 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 found, one uncertified copy shall be issued without 2 additional charge. 3 Any fee received by the State Registrar pursuant to 4 this Section which is of an insufficient amount may be 5 returned by the State Registrar upon his recording the 6 receipt of such fee and the reason for its return. The 7 State Registrar is authorized to maintain a 2 signature, 8 revolving checking account with a suitable commercial bank 9 for the purpose of depositing and withdrawing-for-return 10 cash received and determined insufficient for the service 11 requested. 12 No fee imposed under this Section may be assessed 13 against an organization chartered by Congress that 14 requests a certificate for the purpose of death 15 verification. 16 No fee imposed under this Section may be assessed 17 against a victim of domestic violence as defined in the 18 Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. To qualify for the 19 waiver of a fee, the person seeking the vital record must 20 provide a certification letter as described in Section 21 25.6. 22 Any custodian of vital records, whether it may be the 23 Department of Public Health, a local registrar, or a 24 county clerk shall charge an additional $2 for each 25 certified copy of a death certificate and that additional 26 fee shall be collected on behalf of the Department of HB2841 Enrolled - 5 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 6 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 6 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 6 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 Financial and Professional Regulation for deposit into the 2 Cemetery Oversight Licensing and Disciplinary Fund. 3 (2) The certification of birth may contain only the 4 name, sex, date of birth, and place of birth, of the person 5 to whom it relates, the name, age and birthplace of the 6 parents, and the file number; and none of the other data on 7 the certificate of birth except as authorized under 8 subsection (5) of this Section. 9 (3) The certification of death shall contain only the 10 name, Social Security Number, sex, date of death, and 11 place of death of the person to whom it relates, and file 12 number; and none of the other data on the certificate of 13 death except as authorized under subsection (5) of this 14 Section. 15 (4) Certification or a certified copy of a certificate 16 shall be issued: 17 (a) Upon the order of a court of competent 18 jurisdiction; or 19 (b) In case of a birth certificate, upon the 20 specific written request for a certification or 21 certified copy by the person, if of legal age, by a 22 parent or other legal representative of the person to 23 whom the record of birth relates, or by a person having 24 a genealogical interest; or 25 (c) Upon the specific written request for a 26 certification or certified copy by a department of the HB2841 Enrolled - 6 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 7 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 state or a municipal corporation or the federal 2 government; or 3 (c-1) Upon the specific written request for a 4 certification or certified copy by a State's Attorney 5 for the purpose of a criminal prosecution; or 6 (d) In case of a death or fetal death certificate, 7 upon specific written request for a certified copy by 8 a person, or his duly authorized agent, having a 9 genealogical, personal or property right interest in 10 the record. 11 A genealogical interest shall be a proper purpose with 12 respect to births which occurred not less than 75 years 13 and deaths which occurred not less than 20 years prior to 14 the date of written request. Where the purpose of the 15 request is a genealogical interest, the custodian shall 16 stamp the certification or copy with the words, FOR 17 GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES ONLY. 18 (5) Any certification or certified copy issued 19 pursuant to this Section shall show the date of 20 registration; and copies issued from records marked 21 "delayed," "amended," or "court order" shall be similarly 22 marked and show the effective date. 23 (6) Any certification or certified copy of a 24 certificate issued in accordance with this Section shall 25 be considered as prima facie evidence of the facts therein 26 stated, provided that the evidentiary value of a HB2841 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 8 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 certificate or record filed more than one year after the 2 event, or a record which has been amended, shall be 3 determined by the judicial or administrative body or 4 official before whom the certificate is offered as 5 evidence. 6 (7) Any certification or certified copy issued 7 pursuant to this Section shall be issued without charge 8 when the record is required by the United States Veterans 9 Administration or by any accredited veterans organization 10 to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to 11 participate in benefits available from such organization. 12 Requests for such copies must be in accordance with 13 Sections 1 and 2 of "An Act to provide for the furnishing 14 of copies of public documents to interested parties," 15 approved May 17, 1935, as now or hereafter amended. 16 (8) The National Vital Statistics Division, or any 17 agency which may be substituted therefor, may be furnished 18 such copies or data as it may require for national 19 statistics; provided that the State shall be reimbursed 20 for the cost of furnishing such data; and provided further 21 that such data shall not be used for other than 22 statistical purposes by the National Vital Statistics 23 Division, or any agency which may be substituted therefor, 24 unless so authorized by the State Registrar of Vital 25 Records. 26 (9) Federal, State, local, and other public or private HB2841 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 9 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 9 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 9 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 agencies may, upon request, be furnished copies or data 2 for statistical purposes upon such terms or conditions as 3 may be prescribed by the Department. 4 (10) The State Registrar of Vital Records, at his 5 discretion and in the interest of promoting registration 6 of births, may issue, without fee, to the parents or 7 guardian of any or every child whose birth has been 8 registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act, 9 a special notice of registration of birth. 10 (11) No person shall prepare or issue any certificate 11 which purports to be an original, certified copy, or 12 certification of a certificate of birth, death, or fetal 13 death, except as authorized in this Act or regulations 14 adopted hereunder. 15 (12) A computer print-out of any record of birth, 16 death or fetal record that may be certified under this 17 Section may be used in place of such certification and 18 such computer print-out shall have the same legal force 19 and effect as a certified copy of the document. 20 (13) The State Registrar may verify from the 21 information contained in the index maintained by the State 22 Registrar the authenticity of information on births, 23 deaths, marriages and dissolution of marriages provided to 24 a federal agency or a public agency of another state by a 25 person seeking benefits or employment from the agency, 26 provided the agency pays a fee of $10. HB2841 Enrolled - 9 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 10 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 (14) The State Registrar may issue commemorative birth 2 certificates to persons eligible to receive birth 3 certificates under this Section upon the payment of a fee 4 to be determined by the State Registrar. 5 (Source: P.A. 102-739, eff. 1-1-23.) 6 (410 ILCS 535/25.6 new) 7 Sec. 25.6. Certification letter form. In order to seek a 8 waiver of the fee for a copy of a vital record, the person 9 seeking the record must provide the following certification 10 letter: 11 Certification Letter for Domestic Violence Waiver for Illinois 12 Vital Records 13 Full Name of Applicant:............................... 14 Date of Birth:........................................ 15 I,........................, certify, to the best of my 16 knowledge and belief, that on the date listed below, the above 17 named individual is a victim or child of a victim of domestic 18 violence, as defined by Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic 19 Violence Act of 1986 (750 ILCS 60/103), who is currently 20 fleeing a dangerous living situation. I provide this 21 certification in my capacity as (check one below): 22 ( ) an advocate at a family violence center who 23 assisted the victim; 24 ( ) a licensed medical care or mental health provider; HB2841 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled- 11 -LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 11 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b HB2841 Enrolled - 11 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b 1 ( ) the director of an emergency shelter or 2 transitional housing; or 3 ( ) the director of a transitional living program. 4 Signature:.................Date:........................ 5 Title:.....................Employer:.................... 6 Email:.....................Phone:....................... 7 Address:...................City:........................ 8 State:.....................Zip:......................... HB2841 Enrolled - 11 - LRB103 27393 CPF 53765 b