§36. State registrar as custodian

A. The state registrar of vital records is the custodian of all vital certificates and records in this state which heretofore may exist in any parish or municipality, or which may hereafter be received by him. He shall gather, compile, index, bind, and make provisions for the storage and preservation of these records.

B. The state registrar shall take every precaution to preserve all documents in their original form.

C. To preserve vital records, the state registrar is authorized to prepare accurate typewritten, photographic, electronic, or other reproductions of certificates or reports in the vital records registry. Such reproductions when certified by the state registrar shall be accepted as the original records.

D. The public health statistics unit as provided for in R.S. 40:32(5) shall provide reports containing analysis and tabulation of data derived from certificates and reports required under this Chapter, as determined necessary for health planning and program activities.

E. The state registrar may delegate such functions and duties vested in him or her to employees of the vital records registry.

F. The public health statistics unit shall submit to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, to the legislature, and to the governor an annual report which shall take the form of a compilation and recapitulation of the information received pursuant to this Section and shall include such information as required in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:65.

G. The state registrar of vital records may annually transfer and the secretary of state, division of archives, records management and history, is authorized to receive all birth records over one hundred years old and all records of death, stillbirth, marriage, dissolution of marriage, and annulment over fifty years old which records shall be available for use by genealogists and the general public. Such records shall not be subject to the amendment or alteration provisions of this Chapter.

H. The state registrar of vital records shall provide a monthly report to each assessor concerning the deaths which occurred in the state during the preceding calendar month, as provided for in R.S. 47:1965.

Acts 1979, No. 776, §1. Amended by Acts 1986, No. 876, §1; Acts 1990, No. 212, §1; Acts 2017, No. 137, §1.