VITAL RECORDS FEE INCREASE H.B. 4786 (H-1):
FLOOR SUMMARY
House Bill 4786 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Matt Lori
House Committee: Appropriations
Senate Committee: Appropriations
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to increase vital records fees.
The Michigan Department of Community Health's (DCH) Vital Records Office retains copies of vital records, including births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. The State charges fees to individuals for searches for vital records, creation of new authenticated copies of vital records, and amendments to correct vital records, among other services.
The DCH budget assumes current vital records revenue collections of about $5.5 million. Actual revenue has declined to $3.8 million in FY 2012-13. Due to a beginning fund balance of $1.44 million in FY 2012-13, there was enough revenue to cover the expenditures of $5.3 million, but there is a $1.5 million structural deficit in the program in FY 2013-14 and beyond. In the FY 2013-14 budget, the Governor assumed, and the Legislature concurred with, $1.5 million in additional vital records fee revenue from vital records fee increases to eliminate the shortfall.
The bill would increase vital records fees across the board; for instance, the fee for a basic vital records search would increase from $26 to $34, the fee for creation of a new birth or death certificate would increase from $40 to $50, and the fee for an authenticated copy of a vital record would increase from $29 to $42.
The bill also would create the "Vital Records Fund" in the Department of Treasury to receive revenue from the fees and from any other source.
The bill would take effect on October 1, 2013.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2013-14 DCH budget assumed implementation of this bill and assumed $1.5 million in increased revenue from the fee increases. If the bill is not enacted, there will be a $1.5 million shortfall in support for the vital records program, requiring either additional GF/GP funding to offset the deficit or reductions to the program.
Date Completed: 9-19-13 Fiscal Analyst: Steve Angelotti
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.