The Florida Senate

382.0255  Fees.--

(1)  The department is entitled to fees, as follows:

(a)  Not less than $3 or more than $5 for the first calendar year of records searched or retrieved and a computer certification of the record, a photocopy or birth card if a computer certification is not available, or, if no record is located, a certified statement to that effect. An additional fee of not less than $3 or more than $5 if a photocopy is requested in place of or in addition to a computer certification. Additional fees of not less than $1 or more than $2, up to a maximum total of $50, shall be charged for additional calendar years of records searched or retrieved.

(b)  Not less than $10 or more than $20 for processing and filing a delayed certification of birth, death, fetal death, or presumptive death. This fee entitles the applicant to one certification of the record if filed.

(c)  Not less than $10 or more than $20 for processing and filing a change of name, an amendment to a death record, or an amendment to a birth record. This fee entitles the applicant to one certification of the corrected record.

(d)  Not less than $10 or more than $20 for processing and filing a new birth certificate due to an adoption, affirmation of parental status, or determination of paternity. This fee entitles the applicant to one certification of the new certificate.

(e)  Not less than $2 or more than $4 for each additional certification of the same vital record when ordered at the same time as the initial certification.

(f)  Not less than $5 or more than $10 for processing and forwarding each exemplified copy of a vital record.

(g)  Not less than $5 or more than $10 for an expedited processing of a vital record.

(h)  Not less than 5 cents or more than 10 cents for each vital record listed on electronic media plus a reasonable charge for the cost of preparation, as defined by department rule.

(i)  Twenty-five dollars for a commemorative certificate of birth or marriage. Fees collected pursuant to this paragraph in excess of expenses shall be available for use by the Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Centers (RPICC) Program to prevent child abuse and neglect. Funds derived from the issuance of commemorative marriage certificates shall be available for use by the Improved Pregnancy Outcome Program.

(2)  The fee charged for each request for a certification of a birth record issued by the department or by the local registrar shall be subject to an additional fee of $4 which shall be deposited in the appropriate departmental trust fund. On a quarterly basis, the department shall transfer $1.50 to the Child Welfare Training Trust Fund created in s. 402.40.

(3)  Fees shall be established by rule. However, until rules are adopted, the fees assessed pursuant to this section shall be the minimum fees cited. The fees established by rule must be sufficient to meet the cost of providing the service. All fees shall be paid by the person requesting the record, are due and payable at the time services are requested, and are nonrefundable, except that, when a search is conducted and no vital record is found, any fees paid for additional certified copies shall be refunded. The department may waive all or part of the fees required under this section for any government entity.

(4)  The department shall keep an account of all fees required under this chapter, and deposit such fees in a trust fund used by the department to pay for the efficient administration of this chapter and services provided. It is the intent of the Legislature that the total fees assessed under this chapter be in an amount sufficient to meet the cost of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

History.--s. 107, ch. 97-237; s. 22, ch. 99-397.