BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 2101

                                                                                                                                            By: Delisi

                                                                                                                                      Public Health

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Under current law, the Department of State Health Services (department) is permitted to sell copies of heirloom birth certificates.  These certificates would contain the same information as, and have the same effect of, a certified copy of another birth record.  The fee for issuing an heirloom certificate should not exceed $30.  Proceeds from heirloom birth certificates are deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.  The substitute states that the department is required to promote heirloom certificates, designating that proceeds shall instead go to the credit of the childhood immunization account of the general revenue fund.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

The substitute requires the department to promote and sell copies of heirloom birth certificates after soliciting designs from Texas artists.  Heirloom birth certificates must contain the same information and have the same effect as other certified birth records.  The fee for an heirloom birth certificate must not exceed $50.  Fifty percent of the proceeds from the sale of heirloom birth certificates shall be deposited in the childhood immunization account of the general revenue fund for making grants to fund childhood immunization, related education programs and administration of this program.  The remaining fifty percent must be deposited to the credit of the undedicated portion of the general revenue fund.  Heirloom certificates may only be sold for individuals who were born in Texas.  The department is authorized to appoint an advisory committee to assist in selecting the best designs.  The department will use the existing design until new designs are selected.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2005.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute modifies the original by retaining existing language that heirloom certificates must have the same information as, and have the same effect as, a certified copy of another birth record.  The substitute provides that 50% of the proceeds from the sale of heirloom birth certificates is to be deposited into the immunization account and 50% into the general revenue fund.  It also adds that the department is only authorized to sell these certificates for individuals who were born in this state.