The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the amendment of birth certificates in Arizona. Under the new law, the State Registrar would be limited to amending birth certificates only for specific statutory purposes, thereby enhancing the integrity and accuracy of vital records. Notably, the bill prohibits changes to a person's sex designation on their original birth certificate as a result of sex change surgery, and it removes the previous provisions that allowed for amendments based on sex change operations or chromosomal counts. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if evidence is provided showing that an original entry on a birth certificate was factually inaccurate, the State Registrar must correct the misinformation without noting the correction on the face of the birth certificate.

Furthermore, the bill restricts the ability to amend a birth certificate to only those amendments that are court-ordered for name changes, explicitly prohibiting commissioners from issuing such orders. It also eliminates the requirement for the State Registrar to seal evidentiary documents related to amendments, while still maintaining a record of all evidence submitted for corrections. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the amendment process while ensuring that vital records remain accurate and secure.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-337
House Engrossed Version: 36-337
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-337