An Act To Allow a Personal Representative To Obtain a Copy of a Death Certificate and To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To Amend Its Rules Governing Vital Records Fees
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0388
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: KNAPP, SULLIVAN, FOSSEL, KNIGHT, WINTLE
Amends: 22 MRSA §2706

Legislative Document 
No. 388 
H.P. 314 
House of Representatives, February 8, 2011 
An Act To Allow a Personal Representative To Obtain a Copy of a 
Death Certificate and To Direct the Department of Health and 
Human Services To Amend Its Rules Governing Vital Records Fees 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KNAPP of Gorham. 
Cosponsored by Senator SULLIVAN of York and 
Representatives: FOSSEL of Alna, KNIGHT of Livermore Falls, WINTLE of Garland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2706, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 601, §12, is further 
amended to read: 
5.  Records disclosed.  Vital records of a person must be made available at any 
reasonable time upon that person's request or the request of that person's spouse, 
registered domestic partner, descendants, parents or guardians or a personal 
representative designated in that person's will or that person's duly designated attorney or 
agent or attorney for an agent designated by that person or by a court having jurisdiction 
over that person whether the request be made in person, by mail, by telephone or 
otherwise, if the state registrar is satisfied as to the identity of the requester and, if an 
attorney or agent, if the state registrar is satisfied as to the attorney or agent's authority to 
act as that person's agent or attorney.  If the agent or attorney has been appointed by a 
court of competent jurisdiction, or the attorney or agent's appearance for the person is 
entered therein, the state registrar shall upon request so ascertain by telephone call to the 
register, clerk or recorder of the court, and this must be deemed sufficient justification to 
compel compliance with the request for the record.  The state registrar shall, as soon as 
possible, designate persons in the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics who may 
act in the state registrar's absence or, in case of the state registrar's disqualification, to 
carry out the intent of this subsection. A record of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, 
divorce or domestic partner registration may be disclosed as necessary for the department 
to carry out its responsibilities. 
Sec. 2.  Rules.  The Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics shall amend 
its rules governing vital records fees to provide that a researcher identification card is 
valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and to reduce the fee for registration of a 
researcher identification card to $25 for a person who is a dues-paying member of a 
genealogical society or organization. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows a personal representative to obtain a copy of the death certificate of 
the person who made the will designating that personal representative.  It also directs the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics to amend its rules governing 
vital records fees to provide that a researcher identification card is valid for 2 years from 
the date of issuance and to reduce the fee for registration of a researcher identification 
card to $25 for a person who is a dues-paying member of a genealogical society or 
organization.