§ 23-3-26. Persons required to keep records.
(a) Every person in charge of an institution, as defined in this chapter, shall keep a record of personal particulars and data concerning each person admitted or confined to that institution. This record shall include the information required by the standard certificates of birth, death, and fetal death forms issued under the provisions of this chapter. The record shall be made at the time of admission from information provided by those persons, but when it cannot be so obtained, it shall be obtained from relatives or other persons acquainted with the facts. The name and address of the person providing the information shall be a part of the record.
(b) When a dead human body is released or disposed of by an institution, the person in charge of the institution shall keep a record showing the name of the deceased, date of death, name and address of the person to whom the body is released, date of removal from the institution, or if finally disposed of by the institution, the date, place, and manner of disposition shall be recorded.
(c) A funeral director, embalmer, or other person who removes from the place of death or transports or finally disposes of a dead body or fetus, in addition to filing any certificate or other form required by this chapter, shall keep a record which shall identify the body, and information pertaining to his receipt, removal, and delivery of the body that may be prescribed in regulations adopted by the director of health.
(d) Records maintained under this section shall be retained for a period of not less than five (5) years and shall be made available for inspection by the state registrar of vital records or his or her representative upon demand.
History of Section.P.L. 1961, ch. 87, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Section 23-3-1. - Definitions.
Section 23-3-2. - Division of vital records and statewide system.
Section 23-3-3. - Rules and regulations.
Section 23-3-4. - Appointment of state registrar of vital records.
Section 23-3-5. - Duties of state registrar of vital records.
Section 23-3-5.1. - Transfer of public historical documents.
Section 23-3-6. - Local registrars.
Section 23-3-7. - Duties of local registrars.
Section 23-3-8. - Compensation of local registrars.
Section 23-3-9. - Form of certificates.
Section 23-3-10. - Birth registration.
Section 23-3-10.1. - Certificates of birth — Social security numbers.
Section 23-3-10.2. - Certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth — Filing.
Section 23-3-11. - Infants of unknown parentage — Foundling registration.
Section 23-3-12. - Delayed registration of births.
Section 23-3-12A. - Delayed registration of death and marriage.
Section 23-3-13. - Judicial procedure to establish facts of birth.
Section 23-3-14. - Court reports of adoption.
Section 23-3-16. - Death registration.
Section 23-3-17. - Fetal death registration.
Section 23-3-19. - Extension of time.
Section 23-3-20. - Court reports of divorce.
Section 23-3-21. - Correction and amendment of vital records.
Section 23-3-22. - Reproduction of records.
Section 23-3-23. - Disclosure of records.
Section 23-3-24. - Copies of data from vital records.
Section 23-3-24.1. - Native Americans — Certified copies of birth records.
Section 23-3-25. - Fees for copies and searches.
Section 23-3-25.1. - Veterans’ exemption for fees for copies and searches.
Section 23-3-26. - Persons required to keep records.
Section 23-3-27. - Duties to furnish information relative to vital events.
Section 23-3-29. - Division of vital records and state registrar of vital records.