WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 341

WHEREAS, The current time required to process in-person
requests for Vital Records is 1 to 2 hours; and

WHEREAS, The current demand for copies of vital records has
shown a steady increase as a result of the new tax laws requiring
Social Security numbers for dependent children and the new
immigration law which requires proof of citizenship for
individuals seeking employment; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is
seeking to provide the proper level of service and enhance
service to the public; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General

4-217.

(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Department
shall collect a [$3] $4 fee for each certified or abridged copy
of a birth, death, fetal death, or marriage certificate or for a
report that a search of the files was made and the requested
record is not on file.

(2)  The Department may not collect a fee for a
certificate requested by an agency of [this] THE State or any of
its political subdivisions.

(3)  The Secretary may waive all or part of a fee if
chargeable to an agency of the United States.

(F) A PERSON MAY USE A PHOTOCOPY OF A BIRTH, DEATH, FETAL
DEATH, OR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FOR ANY NONFRAUDULENT AND
NONDECEPTIVE PURPOSE.

Chapter 251 of the Acts of 1986

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1986. [It shall remain effective for a
period of five years and, at the end of June 30, 1991, and with
no further action required by the General Assembly, this Act
shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. At the
end of June 30, 1991, the Michie Company shall publish § 4-217(c)
of the Health - General Article as it existed on June 30, 1986,
subject to any intervening amendments.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Secretary of
Health and Mental Hygiene shall report to the General Assembly at

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