Chief Patron: Hamilton
Heirloom Birth Certificate (language only)

Item 292 #1h

Language
Page 307, after line 51, insert:
"C. 1. The Office of Vital Records, in conjunction with the Department of Social Services, shall develop a mechanism to make available a birth certificate suitable for display, otherwise referred to as an “Heirloom” birth certificate (HBC). Part of the fee from each HBC shall be used to aid in the prevention of child abuse and neglect as stated in section C.2. of this item.
2. The Office of Vital Records shall establish a fee for HBC orders which shall cover all administrative costs to the Office of Vital Records for developing this program and processing HBC orders. In addition, this fee shall be sufficient to transfer a minimum of $25 per HBC to the Family and Children's Trust Fund and up to $100,000 derived from this fee shall be used each year to fund the 1-800-Children Hotline administered by Prevent Child Abuse Virginia.
3. The HBC issued under this subsection must be in a form consistent with the need to protect the integrity of vital records and must be suitable for display. It may bear the seal of the commonwealth and may be signed by the governor.
4. The fee required under this item is in addition to a fee required under this item for a copy of a birth certificate. An HBC issued under this subsection has the same status as evidence as an original birth certificate."

Explanation
(This amendment authorizes the Office of Vital Records in the Virginia Department of Health develop an "Heirloom" birth certificate, and establish a fee sufficient to (i) cover the costs of developing and processing requests for such certificate, (ii) provide $25 per certificate to the Family and Children's Trust Fund and (iii) provide up to $100,000 to fund a hotline operated by Prevent Child Abuse Virginia.)