An Act Relating
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0258
Committee Amendment CA_A_H77 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §2706

'FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
to Access to Vital Records" 
" to 
211, L.D, 258, Bill, "An Act Relating 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting 
following: 
. 
'Sec. L 22 MRSA §2706, as arnended 
PL 2009, c. 
, § 12, is further amended 
to read: 
§2706, Disclosure of 
records 
Custodians of certificates and records of birth, maniage and death 
shall permit 
inspection of records, or 
certified 
copies of celiiflcates or records, or 
any pmis thereof, when satisfied that the applicant 
has a 
legitimate 
interest in the matter recorded, the decision of the state registrar or the clerk of a 
municipality being subject to review by the Superior 
under the limitations of this 
section. 
2. Statistical research. 
state registrar may permit the use 
contained in 
vital records for purposes of statistical research. Such data may not be used in a manller 
that will identify any individual. 
3. National statistics. The national agency responsible for compiling national vital 
statistics may he furnished such copies or data as it may require for national statistics. 
State must be reimbursed 
cost of furnishing such copies or data, and 
data 
may not be used in a manner that will identify any individual, except as auth0l1zed by the 
state registrar. 
4. Unlawful disclosure of data, It is unlawful for any emp10yee of the State or of 
any municipality in the State to disclose data contained in such records, except as 
authorized in this section and exeept that a clerk of a municipality may cause to be 
printed in 
annual town rep01i the births repOlied within the year covered by the report, 
by number of births and location by city or town where birth occurred, deaths reported 
within the year covered by the report, by date of death, name, age and location by city or 
town where death occurred, and marriages repolied within the year covered by the report 
c 
END ENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
"to H,P, 2]1, LD. 258 
by names of parties and 
of marriage. 
other details of birth, marriage, divorce or 
may not be available to 
general public, except as specified in department rules. 
5, Records 
person's duly designated attorney or agent or attorney for an agent designated by 
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 
or agent's authority to act as that person's agent or attorney. [f the 
agent or attorney has been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, or the fl:H19Ff!fB¥ 
===.J--"- or 
appearance for the person is entered therein, the state 
shall 
request so ascertain by telephone call to the register, clerk or 
court, 
and this must 
deemed sufficient justification to compel compliance with the request 
record. The state registrar shall, as soon as possible, designate persons 1n the 
of Data, Research and Vital Statistics who may act in the state registrar's absence 
or, 
case of the state registrar'S disqualifIcation, to carry out the 
of 
subsection. 
A record of 
death, fetal death, 
divorce or domestic partner registration 
may be disclosed as necessary for the department to cany out its responsibilities. 
6, 
Program, 
Access to 
records may be further 
restricted 
the parties listed in subsection 5 according to procedures of the Address 
Confidentiality Program under 
5, 
90-B. 
7. Public 
After ~ 
from the date of birth for birth certificates, 
years from the date of death for fetal death certificates 
~~~"'-"'=~"-"'=""-'='" death certificates, 
~ 
from the date ofmaniagc 
and after ~ 
years £1'om the registration of domestic 
copies 
8, 
reseal'eh. Custodians of certificates and records of birth, marriage 
and death may 
permit inspection of records by and 
noncertif1ed copies to 
researchers engaged in genealogical research 
researcher identitIcation cards, as 
~tJ~'VU'VH by mle adopted by 
department 
The department shall 
rules to 
implement this subsection. Rules adopted by the depmiment pursuant to this subsection 
are routine technical rules as 
by 
5, chapter 375, subchapter 
' 
This amendment replaces the bilL 
It clarifies 
informational copies 
vital 
records are non certified 
It shortens the time period for access to 
records. It 
opens to inspection and 
for purchase of noncertificd copies of vital records created 
prior to 1892. It requires custodians of vital records to permit 
of the records 
c 
END ENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 
"to H.P, 21 ,LD, 258 
by a person who has a 
and legitimate interest 
by a researcher engaged in 
genealogical research who holds a researcher identification carel. 
NOTE 
(See attached) 
c 
ITTE A E D ENT 
Approved: 03121111 .wac 
LD 258 
LR 692(02) 
An Act/Relating to Access to Vital Records 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "4,, 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
. 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal·Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscai Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department o(Health and Human Services are expected to be minor and can be absorbed 
utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR0692(02) - Fiscal Note:- Page 1 of 1