Provides an exemption for certain incarcerated persons from the payment of fees for a first request for vital statistics from the department of health.
Summary
H5349 amends Rhode Island’s vital records law to waive fees for a first request for vital statistics made by an incarcerated person who is about to be released and re-enter the community. The waiver applies to the person’s own personal records requested from the Department of Health. In practical terms, the bill removes the cost barrier for obtaining essential identity and documentation records at the point of reentry.
The measure is narrow in scope and does not change who may request records or the underlying vital records process; it only creates a fee exemption for a specific population and a first request. Because it takes effect upon passage, the change would be immediate once enacted. The bill is framed as a health and safety/vital records measure, but its policy effect is tied to reentry services and access to documents needed for housing, employment, benefits, and other post-release needs.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to chapter 23-3 of the Rhode Island General Laws, creating a statutory exemption from fees for certain incarcerated persons making an initial request for their own vital records from the Department of Health. It would require the department to process that first request without charge for eligible individuals set to be released from prison, thereby modifying the state’s fee structure for vital records and creating a targeted exception to existing charges for copies and searches.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition: the bill passed the House 67-0 and the Senate 37-0. With no committee transcript available, the public record suggests the proposal was viewed favorably and as a low-conflict administrative reform, likely because it supports reentry without imposing a broad fiscal or regulatory burden.
Contention
No notable contention appears in the available materials. The bill is narrowly tailored to incarcerated persons nearing release, so any potential concerns would likely center on administrative implementation or the limited revenue impact of waiving fees, but no such objections are reflected in the votes or committee record provided.