Local government: penalties and fees.

(1) Existing law requires that a base fee of $3 be paid by an applicant for a certified copy of a fetal death or death record and requires that a base fee of $3 be paid by a public agency or private adoption agency applicant, and a base fee of $9 be paid by any other applicant, for a certified copy of a birth certificate. Existing law authorizes the fee to be adjusted pursuant to a specified method, not to exceed the total increased cost of the program or service provided. This bill would raise each of those base fees by $9, as prescribed. This bill would remove the authorization to adjust the fee pursuant to that specified method, and commencing January 1, 2014, would require the fee to be adjusted pursuant to that specified method. The bill would declare that the increased fee would more accurately reflect the true cost of providing those documents. (2) Existing law requires the parent of any minor, or other person who is liable for the support of that minor, on whose behalf a petition is filed to make the minor a ward of the court as provided, when the minor is represented by appointed counsel, to be assessed a registration fee not to exceed $25 at the time legal services are provided, as long as the person is financially able to pay. This bill would raise that fee to $50. (3) This bill would make conforming changes and delete obsolete provisions.