ORDER OF CITY COUNCILLOR JOHN M. TOBIN, JR

WHEREAS: In the City of Boston there are currently three different type of forms for birth certificates; and

WHEREAS: All three of these forms contain personal information that may not have to be shared with the public in instances of registering for certain programs, schools or athletic activities; and

WHEREAS: Other cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts such as, Quincy, Framingham, Leominster, and Tewksbury use a short form birth certificate in addition to the legal birth certificates, in order to provide a secure and private option for basic birth information; and

WHEREAS: Certain requests for a copy of a birth record require an individual to provide proper identification and other request do not require proper identification; and

WHEREAS: Identity theft has become one of the nation’s fastest growing crimes; Therefore be it

ORDERED: That the appropriate Boston City Council committee conduct a hearing on reviewing the Registry Division’s birth record procedures and record keeping and discuss the feasibility of creating a short form birth certificate.

Filed in City Council: Wednesday, May 25, 2005