House of Representatives

SB 1145

(now: vital records electronic systems fund)

Sponsors: Senator Gerard

DP	Committee on Health
DP	Committee on Appropriations
DPA	Caucus and COW
X	Third Read
	As Passed the House

SB 1145 enables Department of Health Services (DHS) to collect 40 percent of the monies from vital records fees for the implementation of a vital records automation system.

Current Status

SB 1145 was amended in COW to require a Government Information Technology Agency approved expenditure plan and adds a delayed repeal date.

History

The DHS Office of Vital Records (OVR) is responsible for issuing certified birth and death certificates. Maricopa and Pima counties issue birth and death certificates, however OVR is responsible for issuing certificates for the remaining counties.

According to DHS, the electronic system used by OVR to issue birth certificates is both cumbersome and outdated. Death certificates are not on an automated system and require significant staff time and filing space. The electronic birth certificate system is incapable of taking on death certificates.

Subject to the availability of funds, DHS would prefer to implement an Internet based system which would allow counties to directly input certificate information. According to OVR, such a system would be employed in order to save labor, time, storage space, ease the process of correcting certificates, ensure compliance with federal information requirements and minimize the number of errors.

SB 1145 appropriates 40% of monies collected from birth and death certificate fees to cover the cost of a vital records automation system. With the passages of SB 1145, DHS would need to raise the fees for birth and death certificates from $6 to $10 in order to receive the necessary funds for a vital records automation system.

Provisions

· Allocates 40% of the monies collected from vital record fees for a vital records fund to establish and implement a vital records automations system.

· Establishes the vital records electronic systems fund.

· Exempts DHS from rule making requirements for one year.

· Authorizes the State Treasurer to invest and divest the monies within the fund.

· Requires any monies resulting from the investment of fund allocation will revert to the fund.

· Requires the fund monies be continuously appropriated, nonreverting and nonlapsing.

SB 1145 was amended in the Committee of the Whole as follows:

· Forbids the expenditure of any funds until a detailed expenditure plan receives approval by the Government Information Technology Agency and is submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for its review.

· Inserts a delayed repeal date of June 30, 2006.

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45th Legislature

Second Regular Session 2 April 25, 2002

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