The bill amends Section 23-3-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3, titled "Vital Records," to establish new regulations regarding the transfer and preservation of public historical documents. Specifically, it mandates that original records of births and marriages that are at least 100 years old, and death records that are at least 50 years old, be permanently transferred to the state archives at the end of each calendar year. The state registrar of vital records is responsible for this transfer, and the secretary of state is authorized to create rules and regulations concerning these documents.

A significant insertion in the bill is the provision that public historical vital records maintained at the Rhode Island state archives shall not be amended, ensuring the integrity of these historical documents. Additionally, the bill requires that an electronic copy of the records be provided to local registrars to facilitate the issuance of accurate or certified copies to the public. The act will take effect upon passage.