State of New Jersey
Executive Order #18

Governor James E. McGreevey
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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. The Registrar must authenticate the identity of the requestor and his or her relationship with the subject of the vital record.

  6. 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.

  7. 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]

Attest:
/s/ Paul A. Levinsohn
Chief Counsel to the Governor