ALENA'S LAW & OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS CHANGES. (NEW)

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View NCGA Bill Details2025-2026 Session
House Bill 537 (Public) Filed Wednesday, March 26, 2025
AN ACT TO ALLOW FOR A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH IN INSTANCES WHERE THE DISAPPEARANCE AND CONTINUED ABSENCE OF A PERSON COINCIDES WITH A DISASTER DECLARATION AND TO PROMOTE GREATER EFFICIENCY IN THE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS BY ESTABLISHING A DEADLINE FOR PROCESSING BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATE AMENDMENT REQUESTS AND BY PROHIBITING OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS EMPLOYEES FROM TELEWORKING, EXCEPT AS NECESSARY DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES.
Intro. by Greene, Stevens.
Status: Ch. SL 2025-44 (Jul 1 2025)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

Submitted by jhenders@sog.unc.edu on

Committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was AN ACT TO ALLOW FOR A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH IN INSTANCES WHERE THE DISAPPEARANCE AND CONTINUED ABSENCE OF A PERSON COINCIDES WITH A DISASTER DECLARATION.

Bill History:

H 537/S.L. 2025-44

Bill Summaries:

  • Bill H 537 (2025-2026)
    Summary date: Jul 3 2025 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO ALLOW FOR A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH IN INSTANCES WHERE THE DISAPPEARANCE AND CONTINUED ABSENCE OF A PERSON COINCIDES WITH A DISASTER DECLARATION AND TO PROMOTE GREATER EFFICIENCY IN THE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS BY ESTABLISHING A DEADLINE FOR PROCESSING BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATE AMENDMENT REQUESTS AND BY PROHIBITING OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS EMPLOYEES FROM TELEWORKING, EXCEPT AS NECESSARY DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES. SL 2025-44. Enacted July 1, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025.

    Courts/Judiciary, Civil, Civil Law, Employment and Retirement, Government, State Agencies, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of State Human Resources (formerly Office of State Personnel)
    GS 28C, GS 130A
  • Bill H 537 (2025-2026)
    Summary date: Jun 17 2025 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition adds the following content and makes conforming changes to the act’s titles.

    Amends GS 130A-118 by adding the requirement that the Office of Vital Records and each local register of deeds office process each request for amendment of a certificate of birth or death within 30 calendar days after receiving the completed application, any required proof, and payment of any applicable fee for the amendment.

    Prohibits employees (both permanent and temporary) of the Office of Vital Records from teleworking if doing so will adversely impact the time line provided above, unless telework is determined to be necessary by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during any period of time when there is a declared disaster or emergency under GS Chapter 166A. Defines telework to mean to use the internet, email, or telephone to perform work duties at a location other than an assigned primary workstation.

    Courts/Judiciary, Civil, Civil Law, Employment and Retirement, Government, State Agencies, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of State Human Resources (formerly Office of State Personnel)
    GS 28C, GS 130A
  • Bill H 537 (2025-2026)
    Summary date: Mar 26 2025 - View Summary

    Amends GS 28C-1 to add new subsection (c), making a federal finding of presumed death prima face evidence to be considered by a judge in an action where a person’s death is at issue, and new subsection (d), making a disappearance and continued absence for at least 90 days during a disaster declaration a rebuttable presumption of the death of a person.

    Amends GS 28C-2 to remove gendered language and add new subparagraph (b)(2a), adding a federal finding of presumed death and averment of disappearance and continued absence for at least 90 days during a disaster declaration to the list of items that should be included in a complaint for an action for receiver. Makes clarifying changes to the punctuation of subsection (b).

    Courts/Judiciary, Civil, Civil Law
    GS 28C
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