SRC-CDH S.B. 444 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 444
By: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
2-18-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, copies of vital statistics are permanently preserved in local
registrar offices as local records.  However, this paper file requirement
is a major cost for each of the 600 local registrars and many of the 254
county clerks across the state, as well as being inefficient and
cumbersome. Conversely, the electronic reporting of births presently saves
the Texas Department of Health more than $100,000 per year in date entry
costs alone.  This legislation allows for the destruction of permanent
records after a certain period, provided that the registrar has access to
electronic records maintained by the bureau of vital statistics, in an
effort to achieve greater efficiency, cut costs, reduce duplication, and
provide better services.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 444 establishes the administration of vital statistics
records. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 191.025(d), Health and Safety Code, to provide
that information required on a certificate must be written legibly in
durable blue or black ink, or may be filed and registered by photographic,
electronic, or other means as prescribed by the state registrar. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 191.026, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e), to authorize the local
registrar, after the first anniversary of the date of registration of a
birth, death, or fetal death, to destroy the permanent record of those
vital statistics maintained by the local registrar if the local registrar
has access to electronic records maintained by the bureau of vital
statistics; and before destroying the records, the local registrar
certifies that each record maintained by the local office that is to be
destroyed has been verified against the records contained in the bureau's
database and that each record is included in the database or otherwise
accounted for.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3. Repealer:  Section 191.035, Health and Safety Code
(Compensation of Local Registrar and County Clerk). 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.