Sec. 204. Establishment of electronic birth and death registration systems

321 words·~1 min read·/bill/113/hr/830/ih/section-204

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

In consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Social Security, the Secretary shall take the following actions: Work with the States to establish a common data set and common data exchange protocol for electronic birth registration systems and death registration systems. Coordinate requirements for such systems to align with a national model. Ensure that fraud prevention is built into the design of electronic vital registration systems in the collection of vital event data, the issuance of birth certificates, and the exchange of data among government agencies.

Ensure that electronic systems for issuing birth certificates, in the form of printed abstracts of birth records or digitized images, employ a common format of the certified copy, so that those requiring such documents can quickly confirm their validity. Establish uniform field requirements for State birth registries. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish a process with the Department of Defense that will result in the sharing of data, with the States and the Social Security Administration, regarding deaths of United States military personnel and the birth and death of their dependents.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish a process with the Department of State to improve registration, notification, and the sharing of data with the States and the Social Security Administration, regarding births and deaths of United States citizens abroad. Not later than 3 years after the date of establishment of databases provided for under this section, require States to record and retain electronic records of pertinent identification information collected from requestors who are not the registrants.

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to Congress a report on whether there is a need for Federal laws to address penalties for fraud and misuse of vital records and whether violations are sufficiently enforced.