Requires the department of health to enter into a contract for the digitalization and indexing of certain vital records

• Democratic2
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

New York State holds one of the richest repositories of historical records in the country, including vital records such as birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage certificates. These records are invaluable for genealogical research, historical documentation, family history research, and personal legal matters. Yet for the thousands of New Yorkers seeking access to these public documents, the process has become unnecessarily burdensome and deeply frustrating. The current system is not just outdated-it is fundamentally broken. As of March 2025, the backlog of genealogical records requests had grown to over 11,800, with many applicants waiting more than three years for a response to their record request. Despite paying a $22 processing fee, many individuals find themselves caught in a prolonged and opaque wait- ing game. In contrast, other states routinely process similar requests in a matter of weeks. This legislation seeks to modernize the way these records are preserved and accessed by requiring the Department of Health to partner with a qualified entity to digitize and index these records, while allowing the public to access them efficiently and without additional cost to the state. By contracting with a qualified genealogical organization to digitize and maintain an online database of New York's vital records, the state can ensure that these records are accessible, searchable, and preserved, without adding cost to taxpayers. This will dramatically shorten wait times, improve access for researchers and families alike, and uphold the state's responsibility to deliver timely, reliable public services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.