After more than five years of work, HB 2157 Delayed Birth Certificates; Native Americans, passed key Arizona House Committees last week. SB 1393, an identical bill, passed in Senate committees. The bills now go before the full House and full Senate for approval before being signed by the Governor.
The bills are sponsored by District 7 Rep. Albert Hale, D-St. Michaels, and Sen. Carlyle Begay, D-Ganado. The legislation was initiated by Coconino County District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler to codify into Arizona State Statute a new rule that was implemented by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) in September 2014. The new ADHS policy streamlined the process for Native Americans born prior to 1970 to receive a delayed birth certificate.
“I thank Chairman Bob Thorpe for hearing these bills and the unanimous, bipartisan support they have received,” Fowler said. “Coconino County is looking forward to seeing the bills continue to move through the legislative process to ensure all of its citizens may enjoy the rights afforded to them that come by having a birth certificate.”
“The new rule adopted by ADHS has already helped Native Americans earn benefits, get a driver’s license and even vote for the first time,” said Supervisor Fowler, who testified in favor of both bills. “I am happy to work with the legislature to make this streamlined process permanent. I applaud the Committee members, Senator Begay, Rep. Hale, ADHS, Coconino County, Navajo Nation and the 22 tribes across the State for keeping this issue at the forefront and moving these bills forward.”
Before the rule took effect, it would take years for some Native Americans to complete the process to receive a delayed birth certificate from the State. The procedure required producing seven separate forms to verify that a person was born at a specific time and place and often included multiple trips to Phoenix, often with little result.
Under the new guidelines, residents born before 1970 at home in rural, remote portions of a County can submit an official tribal enrollment record that has the person’s name, parents’ names, date and location of birth and a supporting document such as medical record that has the four birth facts. Once verified, an individual will be issued a delayed birth certificate.