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HEARING - Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 051-2026, to amend Resolution 120-2023, which establishes fees specific to the Public Health Clinic and Vital Statistics Program, and implements an updated Public Health Vital Statistics Fee Schedule (Exhibit C), effective March 10, 2026, in accordance with the California Department of Public Health updated fee schedule.
FUNDING: Fees for Service.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 102275 and the California Code of Regulations (CCR) 17 Section 1276 identifies the local Health Officer and Public Health Department as the local registrar of births and deaths. California Vital Statistics fees are likewise set by statute in HSC Division 102, Part 1, notably Sections 103525.5 and 103625, which requires HHSA’s Public Health Division (PHD) to adjust Vital Statistics fees accordingly when changes to statute are enacted. Additionally, HSC Section 103625 authorizes counties with an established Children’s Trust Fund to include an additional $3.00 fee for each birth certificate to be deposited in the Children’s Trust Fund to fund child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention programs. El Dorado County maintains a Children’s Trust Fund and this $3.00 additional fee has historically been included with state-mandated fee adjustments to birth certificates.
On July 25, 2023, the Board adopted Resolution 120-2023, which established the County’s current Public Health Clinic and Vital Statistics fees (Legistar file 23-0649), but omitted a provision clearly authorizing the PHD to update Vital Statistics fees as new mandated fee adjustments were issued by the State of California. Effective January 1, 2026, CDPH issued a notice of increases to Vital Statistics fees pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 64 (Chapter 662, Statutes of 2025) affecting birth and death certificates, requiring an update to local fee schedules.
HHSA is recommending the Board adopt this Resolution, amending Resolution 120-2023 and replacing Exhibit C of Resolution 120-2023 with the Exhibit C attached herein, thereby approving updates to Public Health Vital Statistics fees in accordance with AB 64, and authorizing the PHD to adjust Public Health Vital Statistics fees pursuant to future state statute or regulation changes in accordance with the amounts mandated by the State of California or its departments, inclusive of the additional $3.00 fee for birth certificates.
As required, a Notice of Public Hearing was published in both the Mountain Democrat and the Tahoe Tribune of February 13 and 20, 2026, announcing that the Board would conduct a public hearing on this agenda item.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to adopt the resolution, HHSA PHD’s Vital Statistics fees would remain the same, resulting in an increased cost to the County, due to misalignment between local fees captured and state-mandated payments for vital records.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
07/25/23, 23-0649, HHSA Public Health & Animal Services Fee Study & Fee Schedule Resolution
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The fees for service cover the cost of providing the service.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature on the adopted Resolution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT:
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency