An Act to amend 69.30 (2); to create 69.30 (1) (cm) of the statutes; Relating to: authorization for tribal governments to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use.
Summary
AB99 amends Wisconsin’s vital records law to expressly allow tribal governments of federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands in Wisconsin, and employees of those tribal governments, to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use without being subject to the usual penalty provisions. The bill creates a statutory definition of “tribal government” and adds those governments to the list of entities already permitted to make such copies when the copy is marked “FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USE.”
The measure is narrow and administrative in scope. It does not change who may obtain vital records generally, but it expands the set of government entities that may handle certified copies internally for official purposes. The bill also references use under s. 45.04 (5), indicating that the authorization may support tribal administration of certain state-related programs or services that rely on vital records documentation.
Impact
AB99 amends s. 69.30 of the Wisconsin Statutes by adding tribal governments and their employees to the existing exemption from penalties for copying certified vital records for administrative use. It creates a new definition in s. 69.30 (1) (cm) for “tribal government” as the government of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in Wisconsin. The practical effect is to place tribal governments on the same footing as certain other public and quasi-public entities already authorized to make administrative copies of vital records.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, opposition, or support in the available materials. Based on the bill’s text and its limited administrative purpose, the measure appears to be a technical, consensus-oriented change intended to facilitate tribal government operations rather than a controversial policy shift.
Contention
The bill’s only likely point of contention would be the scope of the new authorization: it extends a privilege previously limited to specified institutions and agencies to tribal governments and their employees. Any concerns would likely focus on record-handling safeguards, the definition of eligible tribal governments, or whether the expansion should be limited to particular programs. However, no specific objections or competing views are documented in the provided materials.
Crossfiled
An Act to amend 69.30 (2); to create 69.30 (1) (cm) of the statutes; Relating to: authorization for tribal governments to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use.