CHAPTER 353

An Act to umend and reenact § $2-858.27, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to the issuance of certified copies of certain vital
statistics records. :

(S 185]

Approved April 1, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
I, That § 32-858.27, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended
and as follows:
$ 82-353.27. In accordance with § 32-353.26 and the regulations
adopted pursuant thereto:

(a) The State Registrar of Vital Statistics shall upon request issue
a certified copy of any certificate or record in his custody or of a part
thereof. Such certificates or records in his custody may be in the form of
originals, photo processed reproductions or data filed by electronic means.
Each copy issued shall show the date of registration; and copies issued
from records marked “delayed”, “amended”, or “court order” shall be
similarly marked and show the effective date. Certified copies may be
issued by county and city registrars only while the original record is in
their possession, except that at the option of the county or city registrar
true and complete copies of death certificates may be retained and certified
copies of such records may be issued by the county or city registrar.

(b) <A certified copy of a certificate or any part thereof, issued in
accordance with subsection (a), shall be considered for all purposes the
same as the original, and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts
therein stated, provided that the evidentiary value of a certificate or
record filed more than one year after the event, or a record which has been
amended, shall be determined by the judicial or administrative body or
official] before whom the certificate is offered as evidence.

(c) The National Office of Vital Statistics may be furnished such
copies or data as it may require for national statistics; provided that the
State shall be reimbursed for the cost of furnishing such data; and pro-
vided further that such data shall not be used for other than statistical
purposes by the National Office of Vital Statistics unless so authorized

y the State Registrar of Vital Statistics.

(d) Federal, State, local, and other public or private agencies may,
upon request, be furnished copies or data for statistical or verification
purposes upon such terms or conditions as may be prescribed by the
State Department of Health.

(e) No person shall prepare or issue any certificate which purports
to be an original, certified copy, or copy of a certificate of birth, death,
or fetal death except as authorized in this chapter, or regulations adopted

ereunder. oe