New Jersey Senate Bill S1656

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/14/22
• Refer: 2/14/22
• Report Pass: 3/10/22

Caption

Requires State registrar to permit county surrogate to provide certified copy of death certificate to authorized person under certain circumstances.

Impact

The bill amends existing statutes related to the registration of vital records, specifically R.S.26:8-24 and P.L.2003, c.221. By allowing county surrogates to operate with real-time access to necessary vital statistics records, the bill is expected to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the death certificate issuance process. This could also have implications for how local government handles vital records and may reflect a broader trend towards incorporating modern technologies and processes into civil services.

Summary

Senate Bill S1656, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, aims to reform the process regarding the issuance of death certificates by enhancing the role of county surrogates. The bill mandates that the State registrar allow county surrogates to provide certified copies of death certificates to authorized individuals under specific circumstances. This change is designed to streamline the process, ensuring that those who are authorized and engaged in services provided by the county surrogate have easier access to important vital records.

Contention

While the bill may seem largely procedural, there could be points of contention regarding who qualifies as an 'authorized person' eligible to receive death certificates. Currently, the law defines various individuals such as parents, legal guardians, and close relatives as authorized, but questions may arise about the adequacy of these provisions and whether they adequately address emergent situations. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the need for the Commissioner of Health to adopt regulations that may require additional scrutiny and discussion among stakeholders to ensure comprehensive access while safeguarding sensitive information.