HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2014.04.30 - 21306REPORT (MISC . #14049) April 17, 2014
BY: General Government Committee, Christine Long, Chairperson
IN RE: MR #14049 — 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:
The General Government Committee, having reviewed the above referenced resolution on March
31, 2014, reports with the recommendation the resolution be adopted as follows:
"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 social services 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, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move the acceptance of the
foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
MISCELLANEOUS 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 State]"; 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.
Cdmmissioner Marcia Gtrshenson
District #13
Commissiong
District
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # 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
forward 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.
Resolution #14049 April 17, 2014
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee. There were no objections.
FISCAL NOTE (MISC. #14049) April 30, 2014
BY: Finance Committee, Tom Middleton, Chairperson
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:
Pursuant to Rule XII-C of this Board, the Finance Committee has reviewed the above referenced
resolution and finds:
1. 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,
2. The 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.
3. 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.
4. The Board of Commissioners approves adjustments to the Oakland County Clerk/Register of
Deeds Fee Schedule.
5. 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.
6. A budget amendment is not required.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Taub and Crawford absent.
Resolution #14049 April 30, 2014
Moved by Taub supported by Quarles the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent Agenda
be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Gershenson, Gosselin, Hatchett, Hoffman, Jackson, Long, Matis, McGillivray, Middleton,
Quarles, Runestad, Scott, Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Bosnic, Dwyer, (19)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent
Agenda were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
I HEREBY APPROVE THIS RESOU Mow
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECOTherT,
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.555A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on April 30, 2014,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 30th day of April 2014.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County