GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 503
Short Title: A More Efficient Office of Vital Records. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators McInnis, Sawyer, and Lazzara (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S503 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT PROMOTING GRE ATER EFFICIENCY IN THE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS 2
BY ESTABLISHING A DE ADLINE FOR PROCESSIN G BIRTH AND DEATH 3
CERTIFICATE AMENDMEN T REQUESTS AND BY PR OHIBITING OFFICE OF 4
VITAL RECORDS EMPLOY EES FROM TELEWORKING , EXCEPT AS NECESSARY 5
DURING DECLARED EMER GENCIES. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 130A-118 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 8
"(a1) The Office of Vital Records and each local register of deeds office shall process each 9
request for amendment of a certificate of birth or death within 30 calendar days after the date the 10
office receives the appropriate completed application, any required proof, and payment of any 11
applicable fee for the amendment." 12
SECTION 1.(b) Subsection (a) of this section applies to birth and death certificate 13
amendment requests made on or after the effective date of this act. 14
SECTION 2.(a) Notwithstanding any policy implemented by the Office of State 15
Human Resources or the Department of Health and Human Services, or any provision of State 16
law to the contrary, employees of the Office of Vital Records are not permitted to telework, 17
except as determined necessary by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 18
Services during any period of time when there is a declared disaster or emergency pursuant to 19
Chapter 166A of the General Statutes. As used in this section, the term "telework" means to use 20
the internet, email, or telephone to perform work duties at a location other than an assigned 21
primary workstation. 22
SECTION 2.(b) Subsection (a) of this section applies to all permanent and 23
temporary employees of the Office of Vital Records. 24
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law. 25