The following is a message that was posted to the IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee mailing list:

As of January 1, 2021 there will be a change in ordering birth and death certificates in Washington State.  This has been reported previously by the IAJGS Records Access Alert resulting from legislation law ESSB 5332, the vital records bill, Chapter 148, 2019 Laws.

The law may be read at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.58A&full=true

The rules may be read at: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/5300/WSR-20-13-017.pdf

The major changes are:

There is a frequently asked question (FAQ) webpage to assist in better understanding the new requirements for ordering birth and death certificates. https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/BirthDeathMarriageandDivorce/VitalRecordsFAQ

If your organization believes it is appropriate to post or distribute to help in getting the word out, they have two fliers which may be downloaded—one for birth records and one for death records—both are attached to this posting. 

For more information please contact policy analyst, Katitza Holthaus at: Katitza.Holthaus@doh.wa.gov 

To read the previous postings on the Washington State Legislation ESSS 5332 and the vital record regulations go to: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/private/records-access-alerts/ . You must be registered to access the archives. 

To register go to: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/listinfo/records-access-alerts  and follow the instructions to enter your email address, full name and which genealogical  organization with whom you are affiliated   You will receive an email response that you have to reply to or the subscription will not be finalized.

Jan Meisels Allen

Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee