2023 Tennessee Code › Title 68 - HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (§§ 68-1-NEW — 68-221-1319) › HEALTH (§§ 68-1-NEW — 68-6-201) › Chapter 3 - VITAL RECORDS ACT OF 1977 (§§ 68-3-101 — 68-3-701) › Part 1 - DEFINITIONS AND ADMINISTRATION (§§ 68-3-101 — 68-3-106) › Section 68-3-105 - Violations - Enforcement - Penalties

(a)
(1)
The state registrar has the authority to investigate cases of irregularities or violations of law, personally or by an accredited representative, and all registrars shall aid the state registrar, upon request, in investigations.
(2)
When the state registrar deems it necessary, the state registrar shall report cases of violations of this chapter to the district attorney general, who shall immediately initiate and follow up the necessary court proceedings against the person alleged to be responsible for the violation of law.
(3)
Upon request of the department, the attorney general and reporter shall likewise assist in the enforcement provisions of this chapter.
(b)
It is unlawful for any person to:
(1)
Willfully and knowingly make any false statement in a certificate, record or report required to be filed under this chapter, or in an application for an amendment of the certificate, record or report, or in an application for a certified copy of a vital record, or willfully and knowingly supply false information, intending that such information be used in the preparation of the report, record or certificate, or amendment of the certificate, record, or report;
(2)
Absent lawful authority and with the intent to deceive, make, counterfeit, alter, amend or mutilate any certificate, record or report required to be filed under this chapter or a certified copy of such certificate, record or report;
(3)
Willfully and knowingly obtain, possess, use, sell, furnish or attempt to obtain, possess, use, sell or furnish to another, for any purpose of deception, any certificate, record, report or certified copy of a certificate, record or report so made, counterfeited, altered, amended or mutilated;
(4)
With the intention to deceive willfully and knowingly obtain, possess, use, sell or furnish to another any certificate of birth or certified copy of a certificate of birth, knowing that such certificate or certified copy was issued upon a certificate that is false, in whole or in part, or that relates to the birth of another person, whether living or deceased;
(5)
Willfully and knowingly furnish or process a certificate of birth or certified copy of a certificate of birth, with the knowledge or intention that it be used for the purpose of deception by a person other than the person to whom the certificate of birth relates; or
(6)
Without lawful authority, possess any certificate, record or report required by this chapter or a copy or certified copy of such certificate, record or report, knowing the certificate, record, report or copy to have been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained.
(c)
An offense contained in subsection (b) is a Class C misdemeanor.
(d)
A person commits a Class C misdemeanor, who willfully and knowingly refuses to provide information required by this chapter or regulations adopted under this chapter; or willfully and knowingly transports or accepts for transportation, interment or other disposition a dead body without an accompanying permit as provided in this chapter; or willfully and knowingly neglects or violates this chapter or refuses to perform any of the duties imposed upon the person by this chapter.
Acts 1977, ch. 128, § 28; T.C.A., § 53-406; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.