A bill introduced by Assemblywoman Angela McKnight and Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-31) that would allow the state Department of Health to again accept birth certificates issued in Jersey City cleared an Assembly panel this morning. 
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This moratorium has forced Jersey City residents to trudge all the way to Trenton to obtain a copy of their birth certificate, resulting in unwanted delays and added costs,†McKnight, who has been lobbying for the cause, said in a statement.
“This bill will once again allow residents born in Jersey City to obtain a copy in the same simplified manner as other state residents.â€
In 2004, the New Jersey Department of Health determined that some birth certificates issued in Jersey City were not valid and the security of the vital records was compromised.
As a result, they mandated that anyone born in Jersey City who was seeking a certified copy of their birth certificate for identification purposes, in order to obtain a passport or driver’s license, would have to either obtain the birth certificate directly from DOH in Trenton or use the web-based system available through the DOH website.
“This is a headache that residents born outside of Jersey City have not been subjected to because they can access their birth certificates quickly and easily by requesting it at their local vital statistics office,†Chiaravalloti added.
“This bill will eliminate that aggravation and allow Jersey City’s Vital Statistics Office to once again service all requests.â€
The bill, A3625, would require the Commissioner of Health, no later than September 1, 2017, to authorize the Jersey City Vital Statistics Office to issue certified copies of birth certificates, upon request, to persons born in Jersey City who present all required documentation and pay any required fees for the certificate.
The bill was approved by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and will next be up for a vote by the full Assembly.
If passed, the bill would take effect immediately.
