The bill amends Section 23-3-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3, titled "Vital Records," to establish new guidelines for the transfer and management of public historical documents. It provides that public historical vital records maintained by the Rhode Island state archives shall not be amended in order to preserve their integrity. The bill mandates that original records of births and marriages that are at least 100 years old, and deaths 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for this transfer, and the secretary of state is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations regarding these public historical documents.

Additionally, the bill ensures that an electronic copy of the records is provided to local registrars before the transfer, allowing for the issuance of accurate or certified copies to the public as permitted by law. It also stipulates that any amendments to records not available in electronic format must be forwarded to the local registrar for similar purposes. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
606: 23-3-5.1