HEIRLOOM BIRTH CERTIFICATE
House Bill 4258
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons
Committee: Families, Children, and Seniors
Complete to 3-21-11
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4258 AS INTRODUCED 2-15-11
House Bill 4258 would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:
o Require the State Registrar to issue heirloom birth certificates. These certificates would have to be designed to be suitable for display and could bear the state seal and the governor's signature.
o Require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to promulgate rules establishing the fee for each separate design of an heirloom birth certificate, with the fee amount to exceed the estimated actual cost to the department of a similar design but not to exceed the estimated fair market value of a comparable artistic rendition.
o The portion of the fee that exceeds costs would be deposited as a gift or donation into the Children's Trust Fund.
o Require the State Registrar to establish procedures allowing the purchase of a gift card or certificate that could be redeemed for an heirloom birth certificate.
o Require the DCH to market and promote heirloom birth certificates.
o Specify that the heirloom birth certificate is not an official record of birth and is not the active birth certificate of the person whose name appears on the document.
o Allow the amended section of law to be referred to as the "Pam Posthumus Law."
MCL 333.2882a
FISCAL IMPACT:
Under House Bill 4258 as introduced, the Department of Community Health (DCH) will have additional costs and revenue from the sale of heirloom birth certificates by the state registrar. The Children's Trust Fund administered under the Department of Human Services will also receive revenue from such sales, of the amount of the fee that exceeds the DCH cost to provide the heirloom certificate service. The fee for an heirloom certificate is to be established by rule, and is to exceed the cost to DCH to create a certificate.
The amount of costs and revenue is not known for DCH or the Children's Trust Fund. Revenue generated for the Children's Trust Fund would be $50,000 using the assumptions that the portion of the fee transmitted to the Children's Trust Fund is $10 and the number of heirloom birth certificates ordered is 5,000 annually.
Fiscal Analyst: Susan Frey
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.