Yisbert Lara v. Department of Public Health - Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (SPR 20170023)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor ofR ecords January 6, 2017 SPR17/023 Dean DiMartino Registrar Massachusetts Registry ofVital Records and Statistics 150 Mount Vernon Street 1st Floor Dorchester, MA 02125 Dear Mr. DiMartino: I have received the petition of Yisbert Lara appealing the response of the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Registry) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Lara requested two (2) categories of records. First, Mr. Lara requested "the minimum documentary evidence required for an amendment [of] a certificate of death." Second, Mr. Lara requested "an example form( s) /format( s) that the state registrar is required to utilize [when] amending, correcting, or supplementing records of death." In his petition to this office, Mr. Lara indicated "[u]ntil today, I didn't receive any response from that office." This matter was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR16/1120 Determination ofthe Supervisor ofRecords (December 16, 2016). Subsequent to Mr. Lara's second appeal on the matter, and subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified that a response has actually not yet been provided, contrary to my understanding from Mr. Lara's previous appeal. It has also been brought to my attention that Mr. DiMartino will not return to his office until January 9, 2017. A member of my staff left a voice mail for Mr. DiMartino onJanuary 5, 2017 explaining the matter at hand. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Registry's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed with the proviso that Mr. DiMartino issues the responsive documents to Mr. Lara, once he has returned to his office, without delay. Mr. Lara may appeal the substantive nature ofthe Registry's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Massachusetts Registry ofVital Records and Statistics SPR17/023 Page 2 January 6, 2017 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor ofRecords cc: Yisbert Lara