What's happening
This bill amends the public health law to allow certain counties and cities to set their own fees for issuing birth and death records.
Why it matters
Empowers local governments in specified areas. By allowing certain counties and cities to set their own fees for vital records, the bill gives local officials greater flexibility to respond to local economic conditions or administrative costs, rather than being bound by the state-set fee.
Potential for fee increases or decreases. Residents in the named jurisdictions (Chemung, Monroe, Onondaga, Tompkins counties; cities of Oswego and Albany) could see changes in what they pay for birth and death certificates, as local authorities could set fees up to the state maximum.
Could affect access and budgeting. Changes in fee structures might make it easier (or harder) for residents to afford official documents needed for school, employment, benefits, or legal matters, especially if localities raise fees to the state cap.
Promotes local accountability and responsiveness. Local decision-makers will have to balance budget needs against residents’ ability to pay, potentially increasing transparency and accountability in how vital records services are funded.
Albany, before your first meeting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Albany Sets Vital Records Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.293
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.531
- Substituted for A6463
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 49–13
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.755
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Albany Set Vital Record Fees
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
987
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the fee charged for the issuance of birth and death records
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 4173 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 524 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
3. (a) The registrar shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars[, except in the county of Chemung and the county of Monroe and the county of Onondaga and the county of Tompkins whereby such fee shall be set by the county health commissioner and in the city of Oswego whereby such fee shall be set by the Oswego common council, up to the amount charged by the commissioner as prescribed in subdivision two of section fortyone hundred seventy-four of this title] for each certification of birth or death or for each certified copy or certified transcript of any record of a birth or of a death or for a certification that a search discloses no record of a birth or of a death, furnished by him to an applicant, except that no fee shall be charged for a search, certification of birth or death or certified copy or certified transcript of a birth or a death record to be used for school entrance, employment certificate or for purposes of public relief or government compensation or when required by the veterans administration to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate in the benefits made available by the veterans administration, provided, however, that if such registrar is a city clerk, town clerk or village clerk, he shall collect such fees for and on behalf of the city, town or village in which he serves, provided, however, that an amount equivalent to the sum of such fees shall be paid at least monthly by such city, town or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01084-01-9
S. 987 2
village to such city clerk, town clerk or village clerk entitled to receive fees as a registrar of vital statistics.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subdivision, in the following county jurisdictions the fee shall be set by the county health commissioner: Chemung, Monroe, Onondaga, Tompkins; and in the following local jurisdictions the fee shall be set by the local legislative body: city of Oswego, city of Albany. In such jurisdictions, the fee may be set up to the amount charged by the commissioner as prescribed in subdivision two of section forty-one hundred seventy-four of this title.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the fee charged for the issuance of birth and death records
Purpose or general idea of bill
Authorizes the Albany Common. Council to establish the fee charged for the issuance of birth and death records by the clerk of the City of Albany.
Summary of specific provisions
Amends section 4173(3) (b) of the public Health Law, to provide that the Albany Common Council may increase the fee charged for certified copies of birth and death certificates.
Justification
Vital records are documents such as birth and death certificates. Currently, the City of Albany is authorized to charge up to $10 for a certified copy of these vital records. The fee for a certified copy has not increased since 1991, when the fee increased from $5.00 to its pres- ent fee of $10.00. By contrast, the charge authorized for the NYS Department of Health for such records under NYS Public Health Law section 4174(2) has been increased twice and is $30. Due to the increas- ing costs in providing services to its residents and balancing the budg- et, the Albany Common Council has requested legislation enabling them to implement a fee increase. Local governments have limited resources, many of which are currently experiencing declines as a result of their economic sensitivity. Consequently, it is more important than ever that the state find no-cost ways to enhance local governments' ability to generate additional resources.
Prior legislative history
2017/18: S.2685 Referred to Health
2015/16: A3052/S2124: Passed Assembly
2013/14: A6348/S1141: Passed Assembly
2011/12: A5667-A/S3551-A: Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
None to Sate, additional local revenue will offset need to increase local property taxes.
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.