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SB 147
Kentucky Senate•Engrossed
Summary
SB 147, aN ACT relating to vital records, was introduced in the Senate on Feb 2, 2026 by Sen. Craig Richardson (R). It was referred to Appropriations and Revenue, and last saw action on Apr 15, 2026: recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H).
Record
Text
SB 147 has 1 roll call.
sb147/engrossed.txtUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA1AN ACT relating to vital records.2 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:3Section 1. KRS 213.136 is amended to read as follows:4 (1) The state or county registrar shall, upon written request from an applicant entitled5to a record in accordance with administrative regulations promulgated by the6cabinet,[receipt of an application] issue a certified copy of any certificate or[a7vital] record in the registrar's custody[ or a part thereof to any applicant]. Each8certified copy[ issued] shall indicate[show] the date of registration. If the record is[9and copies issued from records] marked "delayed" or "amended," or issued10pursuant to a court order, the certified copy shall bear the same designation and11include the effective date of the modification[ shall be similarly marked and show12the effective date. The documentary evidence used to establish a delayed certificate13shall be shown on all copies issued. All forms and procedures used in the issuance14of certified copies of vital records in the Commonwealth shall be provided or15approved by the state registrar].16 (2) A certified copy of a vital record or any part thereof, issued in accordance with17subsection (1) of this section, shall be considered the legal equivalent of[for all18purposes the same as] the original and shall serve as[be] prima facie evidence of the19facts stated therein. The evidentiary value of a record filed more than one (1) year20after the event, a record that has been amended, or a record of a foreign live21birth[certificate or record which has been amended] shall be determined by the22judicial or administrative body, or official before which the certificate is offered as23evidence.24 (3) [The federal agency responsible for national vital statistics may be furnished copies25or data from the system of vital statistics for national statistics, if the federal agency26shares in the cost of collecting, processing, and transmitting the data, and if the data27is not used for other than statistical purposes by the federal agency unless soPage 1 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GAUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA1authorized by the cabinet.2 (4) Federal, state, local, and other public or private agencies may, upon request, be3furnished copies or data from the system of vital statistics for statistical or4administrative purposes upon terms or conditions as may be prescribed by5regulation if the copies or data are not used for purposes other than those for which6they were requested without prior permission of the cabinet. No information other7than statistical data shall be provided for commercial purposes.8 (5) The cabinet may, by agreement, transmit copies of records and other reports9required by this chapter to offices of vital statistics outside the Commonwealth10when the records or other reports relate to residents of those jurisdictions or persons11born in those jurisdictions. The agreement shall require that the copies be used for12statistical and administrative purposes only and the agreement shall further provide13for the retention and disposition of the copies. Copies received by the Vital14Statistics Branch from offices of vital statistics in other states shall be handled in15the same manner as prescribed in this section.16 (6) ]No person shall prepare or issue any document purporting[certificate which17purports] to be an original, certified copy, or copy of a certificate of birth, death,18fetal death, or marriage[vital record] except as authorized in this section or19regulation adopted hereunder.20Section 2. KRS 213.141 is amended to read as follows:21 (1) Except as provided in subsection (4)[(2]) of this section, the cabinet shall prescribe22by regulation a fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10)[five dollars ($5)], to be paid for:23(a) 1. Certification of records, whether paper or electronic.242. [ certified copies of certificates or records, or for ]A search of the files25or records when no certification[copy] is made.263. [, or for ]Copies or information provided for health, research, statistical,27or administrative purposes.Page 2 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GAUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA14. Copies of information provided in response to a subpoena or court2order;3(b) Verification of information contained in vital records when such4information is provided; or5(c) A request to modify or replace a vital record in accordance with KRS6Chapter 213, provided that a fee shall not be assessed to modify the cause or7manner of death or for a correction to public health statistical data collected8through vital record registration.9 (2) The cabinet shall prescribe by administrative regulation pursuant to KRS Chapter1013A a fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15)[ten dollars ($10)] to be paid for a11certified copy of a record of a birth:12(a) Three dollars ($3) of which shall be used by the Cabinet for Health and13Family Services for the sole purpose of contracting for the operation of14private, not-for-profit, self-help, education, and support groups for parents15who want to prevent or cease physical, sexual, or mental abuse of children;16and17(b) One dollar ($1) of which shall be used by the Division of Maternal and Child18Health to pay for therapeutic food, formulas, supplements, amino acid-based19elemental formula, or low-protein modified foods for all inborn errors of20metabolism and genetic conditions if:211. The therapeutic food, formulas, supplements, amino acid-based22elemental formula, or low-protein modified food products are medically23indicated for the therapeutic treatment of inborn errors of metabolism or24genetic conditions and are administered under the direction of a25physician; and262. The affected person's therapeutic food, formulas, supplements, amino27acid-based elemental formula, or low-protein foods are not coveredPage 3 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GAUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA1under any public or private health benefit plan.2 (3) Fees collected under this section by the state registrar shall be used to help defray3the cost of administering the system of vital statistics.4 (4) No fee or compensation shall be allowed or paid for furnishing certificates of5birth or death when required:6(a) [No fee or compensation shall be allowed or paid for furnishing certificates of7birth or death required ]In support of any claim against the government for8compensation, insurance, back pay, or other allowances or benefits for any9person who has at any time served as a member of the Army, Navy, Marine10Corps, or Air Force of the United States;[.]11(b) [No fee or compensation shall be allowed or paid ]For furnishing a certificate12of birth to a member of the Kentucky National Guard who has received13deployment orders during the sixty (60) days prior to the furnishing of the14certificate;[.]15(c) [No fee or compensation shall be allowed or paid ]For furnishing a certificate16of birth to a child who is in the custody of or committed to the cabinet,17including a child who has extended commitment to the cabinet in accordance18with KRS 610.110(6);[.]19(d) [No fee or compensation shall be allowed or paid ]For furnishing a certificate20of birth to a homeless individual as defined in KRS 198A.700, or a homeless21youth as defined in 42 U.S.C. sec. 11434a(2) who is under twenty-five (25)22years of age, provided the homeless individual or homeless youth has been23verified as homeless by at least one (1) of the following:241. A director or designee of a governmental or nonprofit agency that25receives public or private funding to provide services to homeless26people;272. A local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youthsPage 4 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GAUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA1designated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) or a school2social worker or school counselor;33. The director or director's designee of a federal TRIO Program or a4Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program; or54. A financial aid administrator for an institution of higher education;[.]6(e) For furnishing a certificate of death of an individual who has died in the7line of duty to state or federal agencies, as defined by the applicable8provisions of Kentucky Revised Statutes; or9(f) Upon the Governor's declaration of a natural disaster within the state, and10when the commissioner of the Department for Public Health declares a11waiver of the fee for a vital record certificate for the victims of the disaster.12 (5) The Office of Vital Statistics may waive the fee for verification of a vital event13requested by a member of a state or federal law enforcement agency authorized to14investigate matters involving public safety.15 (6) (a)[(5)] The cabinet shall notify the State Board of Elections monthly of the16name, address, birthdate, sex, race, and Social Security number of residents of17the Commonwealth who died during the previous month. This data shall18include only those persons who were over the age of eighteen (18) years at the19date of death. No fee or compensation shall be allowed for furnishing these20lists.21(b) To ensure the State Board of Elections accurately removes names from the22voter registration records it maintains, the cabinet shall provide a copy of23the Annual Lifetime Kentucky Death Report to the State Board of Elections24on or before July 1 of each year.25Section 3. KRS 116.113 is amended to read as follows:26 (1) (a) Upon receipt of notification from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services27or other reliable sources of the death of a person, the State Board of ElectionsPage 5 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GAUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA1shall within five (5) days cause the removal of the name of that person from2the voter registration records it maintains, except that no voter's name may be3removed during the period of time the registration books are closed for any4primary, general, or special election.5(b) To ensure that the State Board of Elections accurately removes names from6the voter registration records it maintains, the Cabinet for Health and Family7Services shall provide a copy of the Annual Lifetime Kentucky Death8Report[lifetime Kentucky death records] to the State Board of Elections on or9before July 1 of each year.10 (2) Upon receipt of notification from the circuit clerk that a person has been declared11incompetent, the State Board of Elections shall within five (5) days cause the12removal of the name of that person from the voter registration records it maintains,13except that no voter's name may be removed during the period of time the14registration books are closed for any primary, general, or special election.15 (3) Upon receipt of notification from the Administrative Office of the Courts that a16person has been excused from jury duty for not being a citizen of the United States,17the State Board of Elections shall within five (5) days cause the removal of the18name of that person from the voter registration records it maintains, except that no19voter's name may be removed during the period of time the registration books are20closed for any primary, general, or special election.21 (4) Upon receipt of notification from the Administrative Office of the Courts or the22United States Department of Justice that a person has been convicted of a felony23offense, the State Board of Elections shall within five (5) days cause the removal of24the name of that person from the voter registration records it maintains, except that25no voter's name may be removed during the period of time the registration books26are closed for any primary, general, or special election.27 (5) Upon receipt of notification from a local or state jurisdiction that a voter hasPage 6 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GAUNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 147/GA1registered to vote in the new local or state jurisdiction outside of the2Commonwealth, the State Board of Elections shall within five (5) days cause the3removal of the name of that person from the voter registration records that it4maintains, except that no voter's name may be removed during the period of time5the registration books are closed for any primary, regular election, or special6election.7 (6) Following the purge of a name from the records of the State Board of Elections, the8state board shall notify the clerk of the county in which the voter lived of the action;9and the county clerk shall within ten (10) days update the county voter registration10files to reflect the necessary change. If a protest is filed by the voter, the county11board shall hear it at its next regular monthly meeting. If the county board decides12in favor of the protesting voter, the voter's registration record shall be restored,13including his or her voting record. If the protest is filed while the registration books14are closed and the county board decides in favor of the protesting voter, the county15board shall issue the voter an "Authorization to Vote" for the upcoming election16and the voter's record shall be restored when the registration books open following17the election.Page 7 of 7SB014710.100 - 1700 - XXXX 3/13/2026 11:03 AM GA
Amend KRS 213.136 to establish processes and procedures for requesing vital statistics records from the state or county registrar; amend KRS 213.141 to increase the fee for a certified copy of a vital statistic record to $10; establish fee exceptions; increase the fee for a certified copy of a birth record to $15; establish fee exceptions; establish that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall provide a copy of the Annual Lifetime Kentucky Death Report to the State Board of Elections on or before July 1 of each year; amend KRS 116.113 to conform.
Sponsors
Sen. Craig Richardson (R) sponsors SB 147 alone.
Committees
SB 147 went before 5 committees: Committee on Committees, Health Services, Rules, Committee On Committees and Appropriations and Revenue.
History
SB 147 has taken 14 actions since Feb 2, 2026, the latest on Apr 15, 2026.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 15, 2026 | House | recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H) | ||
Mar 26, 2026 | House | floor amendments (1) and (2-title) filed | ||
Mar 20, 2026 | House | 2nd reading, to Rules | ||
Mar 19, 2026 | House | reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar | ||
Mar 18, 2026 | House | to Health Services (H) |
Votes
SB 147 went to 1 roll call in the Senate, the latest on Mar 13, 2026 at 38–0.
| Chamber | Question | Yea | Nay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mar 13, 2026 | Senate | Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3927 | 38 | 0 |
Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · legiscan.com