R436.  Health, Center for Health Data, Vital Records and Statistics.
R436-10.  Birth and Death Certificates.
R436-10-1.  Registration and Transmittal of Certificates by Local Registrars to the State Registrar.
	(1)  Local registrars shall take appropriate action to be sure that all births and deaths that occur in their registration area are registered.  Local registrars may only register vital statistics certificates for events which occur in their respective areas.  In reviewing the certificates for these events prior to registration, the registrar shall check the certificates for completeness and accuracy.  All appropriate items on the certificates should be completed in accordance to the item by item instructions issued by the State Registrar.  To insure accuracy, cross-checks between items shall be made.  The originators of certificates which are incomplete or inaccurate should be contacted and queried, in order to obtain the needed information.
	(2)  Registrars should check the certificates they receive against the monthly listings of hospitals, nursing homes, funeral directors, and sextons to verify that all vital statistics certificates are registered.
	(3)  Certificates acceptable for registration should have the date received and the registrar's signature entered in the appropriate places.  Deputy local registrars, at the discretion of the local registrar, may use a signature stamp of the local registrar's signature.  Stamped signatures should be initialed by the deputy applying the facsimile signature.
	(4)  After being signed and dated, certificates shall be assigned a local number.  The local number is comprised of two elements:  a numerical county indicator and a number for the event.  Births and deaths (including fetal deaths) have their own numbering series.  Each series begins anew at the start of each calendar year.  However, certificates for events which occurred in a previous calendar year should be numbered in sequential order with the other events for the year in which they occurred.
	(5)  The local registrar shall then make a copy of the certificate for the local files and send the original certificate to the State Registrar.  The certificates should be filed according to event (i.e., births and deaths, including fetal deaths) and according to year of occurrence.  These files are confidential.  All vital statistics records shall be kept in a secure place available only to authorized personnel.
	(6)  Original certificates shall be transmitted to the State Registrar within ten days of their receipt by the local registrar.

KEY:  vital statistics, local government, standards
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment:  1989
Notice of Continuation:  March 20, 2018
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  26-2-19