Rhode Island House Bill H7427

Rhode Island 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/9/22
• Refer: 2/9/22

Caption

Relating To Health And Safety

Impact

The implications of HB 7427 are significant for both the management of public records and the responsibilities of local registrars. By ensuring that records are accessible for issuance to the public, the bill promotes more efficient handling of vital records. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity and accessibility of historical documents, thereby safeguarding the public's right to access important life event records.

Summary

House Bill 7427, introduced in Rhode Island, is focused on amending existing laws related to health and safety, specifically concerning the management and transfer of vital records. The bill mandates that the state registrar of vital records will transfer records of births, marriages, and deaths to the state archives after a specified period. This transfer would occur after 100 years for birth and marriage records and 50 years for death records, thus ensuring these historical documents are preserved and accessible for public inquiry and research by the state archives.

Contention

While the bill aims to streamline the process of managing vital records, it may generate discussions around the role of local registrars and their authority in record-keeping. By assigning greater responsibility for the issuance of certified copies of these records to local registrars, the bill could face scrutiny regarding the resources and training required for local officials to effectively manage these tasks. Additionally, concerns could arise about privacy and data security in the handling of sensitive personal information contained within these records.