Comments on: Fee for death certificates could increase under new plan

By: MJ

MJ — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:21:09 +0000

Links to legislation would be AWESOME! PS. Someone should tell them that this bill has some obvious typos

By: Brad Iverson-Long

Brad Iverson-Long — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:41 +0000

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?

By: MJ

MJ — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:06:15 +0000

Is there an actual copy of the bill somewhere?

By: MJ

MJ — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:40:13 +0000

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!

By: Dustin Hurst

Dustin Hurst — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:52:55 +0000

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.

By: fortboise

fortboise — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:11:28 +0000

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.

By: fortboise

fortboise — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:04:20 +0000

$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.