Ch. 97

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

[(j)] (M) "Registration" means acceptance by the Secretary and incorporation in
the records of the Department of any certificate, report, or other record of birth, death,
fetal death, adoption, marriage, [or] divorce, OR DISSOLUTION OR ANNULMENT OF
MARRIAGE for which this subtitle provides.

[(k)](N) "Vital record" means a [record] CERTIFICATE OR REPORT of birth,
death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, DISSOLUTION OR ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE,
adoption, or adjudication of paternity that is required by law to be filed with the
Secretary.

(O) "VITAL STATISTICS" MEANS THE DATA DERIVED FROM CERTIFICATES
AND REPORTS OF BIRTH, DEATH, FETAL DEATH, MARRIAGE, DIVORCE,
DISSOLUTION OR ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE, AND REPORTS RELATED TO ANY OF
THESE CERTIFICATES AND REPORTS.

4-204.

(a)     The Secretary shall collect, index, and safeguard from fire, loss, or damage
each certificate of birth, death, and fetal death.

(b)     After registration of a completed birth, death, or fetal death certificate, the
Secretary shall send a copy of the original certificate to the county registrar for the county
where the event occurred. THE COPY MAY BE PHOTOGRAPHIC OR ELECTRONIC OR
PRODUCED BY OTHER MEANS AS PRESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY.

[(c) Whenever a resident birth occurs, the Secretary shall promptly provide
parents of the newborn child with information on immunizations mandated by this State
or required for admission to a public school in this State.]

4-205.

(a)     (1) A county registrar shall preserve each copy of a birth record that the
Secretary sends to the county registrar.

(2) A county registrar shall preserve for 3 years each copy of a death or fetal
death record that the Secretary sends to the county registrar.

(b)     The county birth, death, and fetal death records shall be open to inspection by
the Secretary, a designee of the Secretary, or an official of a municipal corporation or
county, if the inspection is made for a proper purpose and in a manner that does not
subject the contents of these records to risk of damage or alteration.

(c)     If any omission or discrepancy in the personal or medical facts in a county
birth, death, or fetal death record is called to the attention of a county registrar, the
county registrar promptly shall:

(1)     Investigate to determine the facts of record; and

(2)     Send a certified statement of the facts to the Secretary.

(d)     A county registrar shall investigate and inform the Secretary in full of any
violation or suspected violation of this subtitle.

- 1444 -