Sec. 191.057. RECORDS WITH ADDENDA

(a) In this section:

(1) "Copy" means a reproduction of a record made by any means.

(2) "Local registration official" means a county clerk or a person authorized by this title to maintain a duplicate system of records for each birth, death, or fetal death that occurs in the person's jurisdiction.

(b) If the bureau of vital statistics or any local registration official receives an application for a certified copy of a birth, death, or fetal death record to which an addendum has been attached under Section 191.033, the application shall be sent immediately to the state registrar. After examining the application, the original record, and the addendum, the state registrar may refuse to issue a certified copy of the record or part of the record to the applicant.

(c) If the state registrar refuses to issue the certified copy:

(1) the state registrar shall notify the applicant of the refusal and the reason for the refusal not later than the 10th day after the date on which the state registrar receives the application; and

(2) the department shall give the applicant an opportunity for a hearing.

(d) After the hearing, the state registrar shall notify the local officials who have duplicates of the questioned record of the department's final decision. The department may order the officials to issue or refuse to issue certified copies of the record.

(e) A duty imposed on or a power granted to the state registrar under this section may be performed or exercised by a designee of the state registrar.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.