HLS 13RS-150 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 602
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORTEGO
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VITAL STATS/BIRTH CERT: Requires La. birth certificate forms to be produced in
bilingual (English and La. French) format
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 40:34(A), relative to vital records forms; to require that text of2
the birth certificate form appear in bilingual format; to provide relative to the system3
of writing employed for certain birth certificate text; and to provide for related4
matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 40:34(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 7
§34. Vital records forms8
A.(1) The certificate forms prescribed by the state registrar shall include, as9
a minimum, the items listed below in Subsection B of this Section and any others10
recommended by the national office in charge of gathering vital statistics. Only11
these forms shall be used in registering, recording, and preserving the vital12
information required by this Chapter.13
These (2)(a) The forms provided for in this Section shall be typewritten in14
black type or written in jet black ink or transferred by electronic means.15
Additionally each (b) Each certificate of a birth occurring in a licensed16
hospital shall be typewritten in black type or computer generated.17
(c) All text of the birth certificate form prescribed by the state registrar shall18
appear on the form in both the English language and the Louisiana French language19 HLS 13RS-150 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 602
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(français de la Louisiane), and the segments of the form which appear in Louisiana1
French shall employ the proper orthography for such language.2
(3) Whenever a form is changed, the new form shall be furnished to the3
person charged with preparing it not less than thirty days prior to the date upon4
which the form shall be required to be used.5
(2) (4) The Department of Health and Hospitals shall promulgate rules and6
regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to allow electronic7
registration in lieu of typewritten or written birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and8
divorce certificates.9
* * *10
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not11
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature12
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If13
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become14
effective on the day following such approval.15
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Ortego HB No. 602
Abstract: Requires La. birth certificate forms to be produced in bilingual (English and La.
French) format.
Proposed law requires that all text of the La. birth certificate form appear in both English and
La. French. Also requires that the segments of the form which appear in La. French employ
the proper system of writing for that language.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 40:34(A))