(a) A fine of not more than $12,500, or imprisonment of not more than 2 years, or both, for each occurrence shall be imposed on:

(1) Any individual who willfully and knowingly makes a false statement to the Registrar or the Registrar's designee when submitting information required by this chapter, in connection with:

(A) A report;

(B) A request to amend or correct a vital record, including any associated evidence;

(C) A request for a certified copy or verification of a vital record;

(D) A request for access to information in vital records; or

(E) A request for creation of a vital record, including delayed records.

(2) Any individual who without lawful authority and with the intent to deceive, makes, counterfeits, alters, amends, or mutilates any record, report, application or supporting documentation submitted or created pursuant to this chapter, or any certification or verification of a vital record, or security paper;

(3) Any individual who willfully and knowingly obtains, possesses, uses, sells, furnishes, or attempts to obtain, possess, use, sell, or furnish a physical or electronic vital record document, including security paper, records, reports, or information in a vital record, that has been counterfeited, altered, unlawfully amended, or mutilated, or that is false in whole or in part, for purposes other than those specified in this chapter;

(4) Any individual who without lawful authority possesses any stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained record, security paper, certified copy, or report or application submitted or created pursuant to this chapter; or

(5) Any individual who willfully and knowingly furnishes data, security paper, certifications or verifications with the knowledge or intention that they will be used for purposes other than those specified in this chapter.

(b) A fine of not more than $2,500, or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, for each occurrence, shall be imposed on:

(1) Any individual who willfully and knowingly refuses to provide information required by this chapter or rules promulgated pursuant to § 7-231.29 to implement this chapter;

(2) Any individual who willfully and knowingly transports or accepts for transportation, interment, or other disposition human remains without an accompanying permit as provided in this chapter; or

(3) Any individual who willfully and knowingly violates any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules promulgated pursuant to § 7-231.29 to implement this chapter, or who willfully and knowingly refuses to perform any of the duties required by this chapter.

(c) The fine set forth in this section shall not be limited by § 22-3571.01.

(d) For each violation set forth in this section, as an alternative to the sanctions set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 may be imposed on any individual who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules issued pursuant to § 7-231.29, or who willfully and knowingly fails to perform any of the duties required by this chapter or by the rules.

(Oct. 30, 2018, D.C. Law 22-164, § 128, 65 DCR 9324.)