MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Welfare
By: Senator(s) Hill
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-57-14, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS TO INCLUDE ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES THE CHILD'S NAME, RACE, SEX, DATE OF BIRTH, PLACE OF BIRTH, AND EACH PARENT'S NAME, RACE, AGE, PLACE OF BIRTH AND OCCUPATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 41-57-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-57-14. (1) If the
mother was married at the time of either conception or birth, or at any time
between conception and birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the
certificate of birth as the father of the child. The social security number of
each parent of a child born within this state shall be furnished to the local registrar
of vital records at the time of filing the certificate of birth, but such
information shall not appear on the portion of the certificate to be issued as
a certified copy. Such information shall be sent to the Office of Vital
Records Registration of the State Department of Health along with the
certificate of birth and shall be retained by the office. The information
shall not be disclosed to any person except as authorized by * * * subsection (2) of this
section or as allowed by Section 41-57-2.
(2) The Office of Vital
Records Registration shall make available to the Division of Child Support Enforcement
of the Mississippi Department of Human Services information concerning the
names and social security numbers of the parents obtained under the requirements
of * * *
subsection (1) of this section for the use in establishing
paternity or enforcing child support obligations. Information obtained by the
Division of Child Support Enforcement under this section may be used in any action
or proceeding before any court, administrative tribunal, or other proceeding
for the purpose of establishing paternity, establishing a child support
obligation, collecting child support or locating persons owing such an obligation.
(3) The Bureau of Vital Statistics shall include the following information on all birth certificates:
(a) The child's name, race, sex, date of birth and place of birth (being the actual town, district and county of said child's birth, except where the child is born in a penal or mental institution where the name of the county shall be sufficient); and
(b) Each parent's name, race, age, place of birth and occupation.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.