Section 432.295 - Preservation program; reproductions of vital records; availability; rules(1) In consultation with the State Archivist, the State Registrar of the Center for Health Statistics shall develop and implement a preservation management program to preserve vital record documents and information and meet generally accepted standards for permanent preservation.(2) The state registrar shall prepare typewritten, photographic, electronic or other reproductions of vital records or reports kept and maintained in the Center for Health Statistics. These reproductions, when verified and approved by the state registrar, shall be accepted as the original vital record documents. The original vital record documents from which permanent reproductions have been made may be disposed of as described in ORS 192.105 or as provided by rule of the state registrar.(3) The state registrar shall provide for the continued availability and integrity of vital event information. To ensure such availability and integrity, the state registrar may keep and maintain redundant copies of information in multiple locations and formats, such as microfilm, microfiche, imaging and electronic databases.(4) The preservation management program must provide for the continued availability of historic vital record documents and information for research and related purposes. Vital records are historic when 100 years have elapsed after the date of live birth for births occurring after 1914, 50 years have elapsed after the date of death for deaths occurring after 1964, 50 years have elapsed after the date of fetal death for fetal deaths occurring after 1964 or 50 years have elapsed after the date of marriage, domestic partnership, dissolution of marriage or dissolution of domestic partnership for such events occurring after 1964. Supporting documents, including corrections and acknowledgments of paternity, may be included with historic vital records. Records under seal are not historic unless unsealed by court order.(5) Historic vital records shall be transferred to the State Archives in accordance with archival procedures for the continued safekeeping of the vital records. The State Archives may not charge the Center for Health Statistics for the transfer and maintenance of historic vital records under this subsection. The state registrar shall adopt rules to ensure that the release of information contained in records of birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership and dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, and reports of fetal death, comply with federal and state laws, regulations and rules. Sections 1 and 2, chapter 246, Oregon Laws 2023, provide:
Sec. 1. Equitable access to birth and death certifications work group. (1) The Oregon Health Authority shall designate a work group comprised of representatives of county vital records offices, funeral directors, other partners and community members to propose options for equitable access to birth and death certificates throughout the state and equitable fee revenue to maintain and improve the state and county vital records system.
(2) The authority shall report to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to vital records on the options proposed by the work group no later than January 1, 2025. [2023 c. 246, § 1]
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this 2023 Act is repealed on January 2, 2025. [2023 c. 246, § 2]