Gov. Combats ID Fraud

Governor James E. McGreevey signed an Executive Order that will reduce instances of forgery and fraud in the issuance of all vital records, including birth, marriage and death certificates as well as county identifications. The Governor signed the Order in Princeton at a security conference that the state is co-sponsoring this week called, Critical Infrastructures: Working Together in a New World "Lessons Learned in Action."

The Executive Order will require the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services, Dr. Clifton Lacy, to develop specifications for uniform forms that will be used by registrars in the issuance of all certified vital records.

"Identification fraud presents grave risks to the public by those who seek to steal someone's identity," said McGreevey. "This Executive Order will make it difficult for terrorists and criminals to obtain the falsified records that have been used to carry out attacks on our citizens."

McGreevey said that uniform forms will help to deter forgery and identity theft because the forms for copies of vital records will be readily distinguishable from the form designated for certifications of actual vital records.

"By creating clear, separate and distinguishable forms for certified copies of vital records and for certifications of vital records, we are establishing checks that will effectively reduce the instances of identify theft and fraud," said McGreevey.

The Executive Order also requires that a State or local registrar only issue a certified copy of a vital record to persons who are the subject of the vital record, or are the subject's parent, legal guardian, spouse, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age. Certified copies can also be obtained in certain other limited circumstances such as upon court order, request from a government agency for official purposes or under other emergent circumstances.

"When we travel, we must show a form of identification. When we seek employment, we must show a form of identification. By cracking down on those who can obtain official copies of birth certificates or county identifications, we are, in essence, preventing the issuance of other fake forms of identification such as driver's licenses," said McGreevey.

Certifications of vital records may also be issued in other circumstances, however, they will be for informational purposes only and cannot be used for identification or for other legal purposes.

Registrars will be required to authenticate the identity of the person and his or her relationship with the subject of the vital record before issuing the certified copy.

The Executive Order will take effect immediately and shall remain in effect, unless rescinded, until such time as the requirements of the E.O. are passed into law by the Legislature.

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Author: Paul Aronsohn