(1) In addition to the original birth certificate, the state registrar shall issue upon request and upon payment of the fee established pursuant to subsection (3) of this section a birth certificate representing that the birth of the person named thereon is recorded in the office of the registrar. The certificate issued under this section shall be in a form consistent with the need to protect the integrity of vital records but shall be suitable for display. It may bear the seal of the state printed thereon and may be signed by the governor. It shall have the same status as evidence as the original birth certificate.

     (2) Of the funds received under subsection (1) of this section, the amount needed to reimburse the registrar for expenses incurred in administering this section shall be credited to the state registrar account. The remainder shall be credited to the children's trust fund established under RCW 43.121.100.

     (3) The fee shall be set by the council established pursuant to RCW 43.121.020, at a level likely to maximize revenues for the children's trust fund.

[2004 c 53 § 1; 1987 c 351 § 6.]

NOTES:

     Legislative findings -- 1987 c 351: "The legislature finds that children are society's most valuable resource and that child abuse and neglect is a threat to the physical, mental, and emotional health of children. The legislature further finds that assisting community-based private nonprofit and public organizations, agencies, or school districts in identifying and establishing needed primary prevention programs will reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, and the necessity for costly subsequent intervention in family life by the state. Child abuse and neglect prevention programs can be most effectively and economically administered through the use of trained volunteers and the cooperative efforts of the communities, citizens, and the state. The legislature finds that the Washington council for prevention of child abuse is an effective counsel for reducing child abuse but limited resources have prevented the council from funding promising prevention concepts statewide.

     It is the intent of the legislature to establish a cost-neutral revenue system for the children's trust fund which is designed to fund primary prevention programs and innovative prevention related activities such as research or public awareness campaigns. The fund shall be supported through revenue created by the sale of heirloom birth certificates. This concept has proven to be a cost-effective approach to funding child abuse prevention in the state of Oregon. The legislature believes that this is an innovative way of using private dollars to supplement our public dollars to reduce child abuse and neglect." [1987 c 351 § 1.]