Chief Patron: Howell
Heirloom Birth Certificates (language only)

Item 292 #1s

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.  An HBC issued under this subsection has the same status as evidence as an original birth certificate.
4.  The fee required under this item is in addition to a fee required under this item for a copy of a birth certificate."

Explanation
(This amendment establishes a new fee to a) support the cost of creating and operating an "Heirloom" birth certificate program, b) provide additional funding (no less than $25 of the fee) for the Family and Children's Trust Fund, and c) allocate $100,000 for the operations of the 1-800-Children Hotline.)