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 the sex designation on a person's 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 a court order for amending a birth certificate is restricted to changing the name of the individual, and it explicitly prohibits commissioners from issuing such orders.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a mechanism for correcting factually inaccurate information on birth certificates, requiring the State Registrar to remove misinformation if compelling evidence is provided. It also mandates that records of corrections should not appear on the face of the birth certificate, while the Bureau of Vital Records must maintain a record of all evidence submitted for amendments. The requirement for the State Registrar to seal evidentiary documents related to amendments is removed, and the bill makes various technical and conforming changes to existing law.

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