(a) Notwithstanding any other law, birth data files, birth data files for public release, death data files for public release, death data files for purposes of law enforcement or preventing fraud, and nonconfidential marriage data files prepared and maintained by the State Registrar, local registrars, and county recorders shall only be released as follows:
(1) Birth data files containing personal identifiers shall be subject to the same restrictions as the confidential portion of a birth certificate and shall only be released under the terms and conditions specified in Section 102430.
(2) Birth data files for public release shall not contain the mother’s maiden name.
(3) Death data files for public release shall not contain the mother’s maiden name and social security number.
(4) Death data files for purposes of law enforcement or preventing fraud shall include the mother’s maiden name and social security number. Death data files prepared pursuant to this subdivision may be released to governmental agencies and to those entities described in paragraphs (5) and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 102230.
(5) Death data files containing personal identifying information may be released to persons expressing a valid scientific interest, as determined by the appropriate committee constituted for the protection of human subjects that is approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and has a general assurance pursuant to Part 46 (commencing with Section 46.101) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(6) Nonconfidential marriage data files shall include the name of each party to the marriage and the date of the marriage. Nonconfidential marriage data files for public release shall not contain the maiden names of the mothers.
(b) Requesters of birth, death, and nonconfidential marriage data files pursuant to this section shall provide proof of identity, complete a form, and sign the form under penalty of perjury. The form shall include all of the following:
(1) An agreement not to release the birth, death, or marriage data files and not to post the files on the internet, except as permitted by this subdivision.
(2) An agreement not to provide public access to data files obtained pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (4) of subdivision (a).
(3) The proposed use of the data file.
(4) For data files obtained pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (4) of subdivision (a), the names of all persons within the organization, if applicable, who will have access to the data files.
(5) A disclaimer that credits analyses, interpretations, or conclusions reached regarding the birth or death data files to the author and not to the State Department of Public Health.
(6) Assurance that technical descriptions of the data files are consistent with those provided by the State Department of Public Health.
(7) Assurance that the requester shall not sell, assign, or otherwise transfer the data files, except as permitted by subdivision (e).
(8) Assurance that the requester shall not use the data files for fraudulent purposes.
(c) Mail-in requests for birth, death, and nonconfidential marriage data files pursuant to this section shall include a notarized statement attesting to the identity of the requester.
(d) (1) Birth, death, and nonconfidential marriage data files provided pursuant to this section shall be made available subject to cost recovery provisions of the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code).
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), death data files provided pursuant to this section by the State Department of Public Health shall be made available subject to reasonable cost recovery. Moneys collected for cost recovery pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited with the Treasurer for credit to the Health Statistics Special Fund.
(e) (1) Birth, death, and nonconfidential marriage data files, and any portion thereof, obtained pursuant to this section, shall not be used for fraudulent purposes and shall not be posted on the internet.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), individual information contained in death data files obtained pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) may be posted on the internet if all of the following requirements are met:
(A) The information is posted on an internet website that is protected by a password.
(B) The information is posted on an internet website that is available to subscribers only for a fee.
(C) The information is not posted for public display.
(D) The information is available to subscribers pursuant to a contractual agreement.
(E) The information is posted for purposes of law enforcement or preventing fraud.
(f) A person or entity that obtains a birth, death, or nonconfidential marriage data file, or any portion thereof, from a requester who has obtained the data file in accordance with subdivision (b) shall not sell, assign, or otherwise transfer that data file, or any portion thereof, to a third party.
(g) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that funds for these purposes are appropriated by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or other statute.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 492, Sec. 7. (SB 1511) Effective January 1, 2025.)