An Act Regarding the Filing of Birth, Death and Marriage Data
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1627
Committee Amendment CA_A_S419 (Senate)
Amends: 19-A MRSA §651

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 537, L.D. 1627, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding the Filing of Birth, Death and Marriage Data" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §651, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 537, §12 and 
affected by §62, is further amended to read: 
2. Application. The parties wishing to record notice of their intentions of marriage 
shall submit an application for recording notice of their intentions of marriage. 
The 
application must include a signed certification that the information recorded on the 
application is correct and that the applicant is free to marry according to the laws of this 
State. The applicant's signature must be acknowledged before an official authorized to 
take oaths. Applications recording notioe of intentions to marry must be open for publio 
inspeotion in the office of the olerk. \Vhen the application is submitted, the applicant 
shall provide the olerk with the social seourity numbers of the parties. The applioation 
must inolude a statement that the sooial seourity numbers of the parties have been 
provided to the olerk. The Glerk shall reGord the sOGial seGurity numbers provided by 
eaoh applioant. The record of the social seourity numbers is Gonfidential and is not open 
for publio inspeotion. An application recording notice of intention to marry is not open 
for public inspection for 50 years from the date of the application except that: 
A. The names of the parties for whom intentions to marry are filed and the intended 
date of marriage are public records and open for public inspection; and 
B. 
A person with a researcher identification card under Title 22, section 2706, 
subsection 8 is permitted to inspect records and may be issued a noncertified copy of 
an application.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 4 the following: 
'Sec. 5. 22 MRS A §2706, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2011, c. 58, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,c (,}r;:,., 
" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S,P, 537, LD, 1627 
8. Genealogical research. Custodians of certificates and records of birth, marriage 
and death, including applications regarding notice of intentions to marry, shall permit 
inspection of records by and issue noncertified copies to researchers engaged in 
genealogical research who hold researcher identification cards, as specified by rule 
adopted by the department. 
The department shall adopt rules to implement this 
subsection. Rules adopted by the department pursuant to this subsection are routine 
technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment allows a researcher engaged in genealogical research who holds a 
researcher identification card under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 2706, 
subsection 8 to have access to applications recording intentions to marry and permits a 
custodian of those applications to issue a noncertified copy of an application to a 
researcher. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 02/21/12 
~ac 
LD 1627 
LR 2493(02) 
An Act Regarding the Filing of Birth, Death and Marriage Data 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" A" S - If I CJ 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to be minor and can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2493(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1