Those citizens and attorneys looking to obtain a copy of a death certificate could see an increase in the fee they are required to pay under a new plan proposed to the the House State Affairs Committee. The plan, presented by Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, would increase the fee from the current amount, $13, by $1.
Gibbs, during his testimony before the committee, said that the fee hike would enable the state to create a pool of money for ongoing education and re-education for county coroners. He added that because many coroners are involved with determining causes of death, their education must be kept current. Gibbs also said that many counties are concerned that their coroners, due to lack of training, often contaminate crime scenes.
Idaho’s fee is level with many surrounding states. Utah’s fee for one copy is $16, while Montana’s is lower than Idaho’s at $12. Oregon and Washington have the highest rates in the region, charging $20 for the first copy.
Gibbs said the fee hike could generate as much as $50,000 in additional revenue for the state per year.
The committee voted unanimously to support the proposal and will hear more testimony on the matter in upcoming weeks. A list of the fees for death certificates can be found here.
$50,000 to be obtained each year from Idahoans when members of their family die?
Sounds rather horrific to me.
I’d like to see the price of death certificates reflect the cost to issue, and nothing more. That would undoubtedly mean multiple copies get a substantial discount. (You need one for pretty much every business arrangement/financial institution/etc. that the deceased has.)
If county Coroners are incapable of doing their jobs, counties should definitely FIX THAT, but taxing the bereaved doesn’t seem like a legitimate tactic toward that end.
HB 492 with this proposal has been printed:
http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0492.htm
(1) FEES FOR MUCH MORE THAN DEATH CERTIFICATES ARE RAISED
Idaho Code 39-252 currently “entitles” the state registrar to charge $4 for “making of certified copies of records or for a search of the files when no copies are made.” This would apply to BIRTH, ADOPTION, MARRIAGE AND ANY OTHER RECORDS under the purview of Title 39 Chapter 2 (Vital Statistics), would it not?
If that is the legislative intent, it should be so stated, and the merits of a BLANKET TRIPLING of statutory fees considered.
(2) THE INCREASE IS NOT $1, IT IS $9, or $10
The news here said the proposal was to raise a fee from $12 to $13. The Bill talks about raising this (AND OTHER, as noted above) fees from $4 to $13. And the new clause requires an additional $1 specifically for death certificates.
$13 in clause 1, an additional $1 in clause 2.
Seems like pretty sloppy drafting, so far.
Fortboise,
Thanks for the comment. I will look into that. I was working off the testimony given before the committee and documents on the department of health and welfare’s website.
Good research.
I think that the bill is going in a good direction. Most states charge close to $20 for the first cert. and $10 for additional ones. Also, what about all of the people that die in Idaho that are not from Idaho? People who are here on vacation, or who are brought to our regional hospitals… is it really fair for tax payers and the Idaho beraeved to have to make up the costs? In the current system we have to.
Additionally, requiring coroners who are elected and paid minimal salaries to have bi-annual education without a means to do that is simply not feasible. Coroners need to know what they are doing and this means of funding seems pretty legit.
Let’s face it. Idaho is one of the least expensive states to die in… let’s not make it the cheapest by underfunding the people who ultimately give families peace of mind–knowing that their loved one’s death has not been dealt with by an underfunded, uneducated elected official!
Is there an actual copy of the bill somewhere?
MJ,
Here’s the official state page for House Bill 492, including its text and statement of purpose.
Would you like us to start including links to all introduced legislation we report on?
Links to legislation would be AWESOME! PS. Someone should tell them that this bill has some obvious typos