A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing that certified and uncertified copies of death certificates shall be issued without charge to certain family members of a deceased veteran of the armed forces of the united states who was discharged or released under honorable conditions.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 161‑10 reads as rewritten:
"§ 161‑10.  Uniform fees of registers of deeds.
(a)	Except as otherwise provided in this Article, all fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the county general fund. While performing the duties of the office, the register of deeds shall collect the following fees which shall be uniform throughout the State:
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(8)	Certified Copies of Birth and Death Certificates and Marriage Licenses. – For furnishing a certified copy of a death or birth certificate or marriage license ten dollars ($10.00). Provided however, a register of deeds, in accordance with G.S. 130A‑93, may issue without charge a certified birth certificate to any person over the age of 62 years. Provided, however, upon verification of voter registration, a register of deeds, in accordance with G.S. 130A‑93, shall issue without charge a certified copy of a birth certificate or a certified copy of a marriage license to any registered voter who declares the registered voter is registered to vote in this State and does not have a certified copy of that registered voter's birth certificate or marriage license necessary to obtain photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13. Any declaration shall prominently include the penalty under G.S. 163‑275(13) for falsely or fraudulently making the declaration. Provided, however, a register of deeds shall issue without charge a certified copy of a death certificate to the spouse, sibling, direct ancestor or descendant, stepparent, or stepchild of a deceased veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who was discharged or released from the Armed Forces of the United States under honorable conditions.
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(11)	Uncertified Copies. – A register of deeds who supplies uncertified copies of instruments, or index pages, as a convenience to the public, may charge fees that the register of deeds determines bear a reasonable relation to the quality of copies supplied and the cost of purchasing and maintaining copying and/or computer equipment. These fees may be changed from time to time, but the amount of these fees shall at all times be uniform and prominently posted in the office of the register of deeds. Provided, however, a register of deeds shall issue without charge an uncertified copy of a death certificate to the spouse, sibling, direct ancestor or descendant, stepparent, or stepchild of a deceased veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who was discharged or released from the Armed Forces of the United States under honorable conditions.
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SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.