HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2014.03.06 - 21200MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #14049
BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OAKLAND COUNTY CLERK / REGISTER OF
DEEDS DISCOUNTED FEE POLICY AND APPLICATION PROCESS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS Oakland County is rebounding from the economic downturn. The 2010 Census
shows that 11% percent of children under the age of 17 are living with families whose income
was below the poverty level; and
WHEREAS many indigent residents are unable to afford the fees for, and need copies of, vital
records in order to enroll children in school, gain employment, qualify for housing and state
assistance, and obtain a state identification card; and
WHEREAS the cost of obtaining vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and
death certificates may impose a financial hardship on individuals who are homeless and families
with limited financial resources; and
WHEREAS the Michigan Public Health Code, Public Act 358 of 1978 [MCL 333.2891(16a)]
provides that the governing body of a local governmental unit that has jurisdiction over a local
registrar may adopt a system of fees for the local registrar that provides for fees less than or
equal to the fees set forth [by the Stater and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds' Vital Records Department is
responsible for, amongst other duties, recording and safeguarding birth, death, marriage
documents; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners has previously established policies to
provide services to Oakland County residents regardless of the individual's ability to pay, in
which discounts are offered based upon household income and size; and
WHEREAS the principle of a discounted or waived fee would be appropriate to assure that
individuals in need of access to their vital records are not denied this documentation due to an
inability to pay.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners,
hereby approves adjustments to the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds fee schedule, to
establish the following:
Discounted Fee Policy
It is the policy of the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds office to provide services
and copies of documents regardless of the Oakland County resident's ability to pay.
Upon presentation of a letter by an accredited agency or other documentation
evidencing financial hardship, the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds may reduce
or waive the fee for needed vital records.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Cdmmissioner Marcia Gfthenson
District #13
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commission-6
District
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, through the
General Government Committee, shall review the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds
discounted fee policy every three (3) years.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to
fcrward copies of this adopted resolution to the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #14049 March 6, 2014
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.