WHEREAS, State and
local governments issue certain vital records such as birth certificates,
and counties also issue county identification cards (collectively, official
identifying records); and
WHEREAS, public
and private enterprises at times may rely on such official identifying
records to establish, support or confirm the bearer's identity; and
WHEREAS, official
identifying records may be presented to acquire other forms of personal
identification, which may further support a bearer's claimed identity,
or which may entitle the bearer to certain licenses, privileges and benefits,
including but not limited to, access to travel, employment and certain
secure locations; and
WHEREAS, the New
Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force has supported measures
to deter the misuse of vital records by establishing safeguards regarding
the issuance of such records; and
WHEREAS, the misuse
of official identifying records presents grave risks to the public by
those seeking to perpetrate frauds and other crimes on our citizens, and,
more critically, potentially by those within our borders who wish to endanger
the safety and security of our State and our nation through terrorism;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Statutes of
this State, including but not limited to the Disaster Control Act of 1941,
P.L.1941, c.393, as supplemented and amended, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT
that:
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Within 90 days
of the date of this order, the Commissioner of the Department of Health
and Senior Services (Commissioner) shall designate specifications
for uniform forms for the issuance of all vital records, which shall
be used by registrars beginning on a date established by the Commissioner.
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The form designated
for certified copies of vital records shall contain safety features
for authentication purposes and to deter forgery, and shall be readily
distinguishable from the form designated for certifications of vital
records.
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A State or local
Registrar may issue a certified copy of a vital record only to persons
who establish themselves as the subject of the vital record, the subject's
parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild
or sibling, if of legal age, to a State or federal agency for official
purposes, pursuant to court order or under other emergent circumstances
as determined by the Commissioner.
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Certifications
may be issued in other circumstances and shall state that they are
for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for identification
or legal purposes.
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The Registrar
must authenticate the identity of the requestor and his or her relationship
with the subject of the vital record.
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The Director
of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control shall forthwith review
the regulations regarding the issuance of county identifications,
and shall propose any appropriate amendment that would deter the fraudulent
or other improper use of such cards.
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This Order shall
take effect immediately and shall remain in effect, unless rescinded,
until such time as the requirements set forth in numbered paragraph
1 through numbered paragraph 4 of this Executive Order are passed
into law by the Legislature and approved by the Governor.
GIVEN,
under my hand this
24th day of April, in the Year
of Our Lord, Two Thousand
Two,and of the Independence
of the United States, the Two
Hundred And Twenty-Sixth.
/s/ James
E. McGreevey
Governor
[seal]
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Attest:
/s/ Paul A. Levinsohn
Chief Counsel to the Governor