HOUSE BILL 96

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Sharon Clahchischilliage

AN ACT

RELATING TO VITAL RECORDS; INCREASING FEES FOR SEARCHES AND COPIES OF VITAL RECORDS; CHANGING THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEES; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 24-14-29 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1961, Chapter 44, Section 27, as amended) is amended to read:

     "24-14-29. FEES FOR COPIES AND SEARCHES.--

          A. The fee for each search of a vital record to produce a certified copy of a birth certificate shall be [ten dollars ($10.00)] fifteen dollars ($15.00) and shall include one certified copy of the record, if available. The fee for each additional certified copy of the record shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00).

          B. The fee for the establishment of a delayed record or for the revision or amendment of a vital record, as a result of an adoption, a legitimation, a correction or other court-ordered change to a vital record, shall be [ten dollars ($10.00)] fifteen dollars ($15.00). The fee shall include one certified copy of the delayed record. The fee for each additional certified copy of the record shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00).

          C. The fee for each search of a vital record to produce a copy of a report of spontaneous fetal death or a certificate of still birth shall be [five dollars ($5.00)] ten dollars ($10.00) and shall include one certified copy of the record of fetal death, if available. The fee for each additional certified copy of the record shall be ten dollars ($10.00).

          D. The fee for each search of a vital record to produce a certified copy of a death certificate shall be [five dollars ($5.00)] ten dollars ($10.00) and shall include one certified copy of the record, if available. The fee for each additional certified copy of the record shall be ten dollars ($10.00).

          E. Revenue from the fees imposed in this section shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) an amount equal to [three-fifths] thirty percent of the revenue from the [fee] fees imposed by [Subsection A] Subsections A through D of this section [an amount equal to one-half of the revenue from the fee imposed by Subsection B of this section and an amount equal to one-fifth of the revenue from the fee imposed by Subsection D of this section] shall be distributed to the day-care fund; and

                (2) the remainder of the revenue from the fees imposed by Subsections A [B, C and] through D of this section shall be deposited in the [state general] vital records fund."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Vital Statistics Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] VITAL RECORDS FUND CREATED.--The "vital records fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of revenue from the fees imposed pursuant to Section 24-14-29 NMSA 1978. Any interest accruing to the fund shall remain in the fund. The department shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to support the operation, modernization and automation of the bureau. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert. Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of health."

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