[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7895-7896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3583]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

[INS No. 2027-99]


Notice of Meeting Concerning Federal Standards for Birth 
Certificates

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting concerning Federal standards for birth 
certificates.

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SUMMARY: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 
Act of 1996, requires that:
     Appropriate standards be developed for certified copies of 
birth certificates to be accepted for official purposes by Federal 
agencies;
     At a minimum, the certified copies of birth certificates 
be designed to limit tampering, counterfeiting, and photocopying, or 
otherwise being duplicated, for fraudulent purposes;
     Regulations be issued establishing such standards; and
     A lead Federal Agency be selected for issuing the 
regulations.
    The Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service) has been 
designated as the lead agency for this project and has convened a 
Working Group comprised of other Federal agencies and a representative 
of state issuing offices. In order to develop new standards that would 
make certified copies of birth certificates more secure and tamper 
resistant, the Working Group would like to:
     Meet with interested parties, especially vendors of paper, 
ink, printing services, and related products, and
     Allow these interested parties to describe the products 
and/or services

[[Page 7896]]

that would contribute to making certified copies of birth certificates 
more secure and tamper resistant.

DATES AND TIMES: The meeting will be held on March 8, 2000, from 9 a.m. 
until noon. The meeting may be extended until 1 p.m., if necessary, to 
accommodate the number of interested parties wishing to speak.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Washington 
Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, in Congressional Hall B (2 
blocks north of Metro stop Gallery Place).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Strack, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, 425 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20536, 
telephone 202-514-3242.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: What is the Legal Authority for Developing 
New Standards for Birth Certificates?
    Section 656(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996, Public Law 104-208, dated September 30, 
1996, requires the development of Federal standards for certified 
copies of birth certificates that will be accepted for official 
purposes by Federal agencies and the issuance of a regulation 
establishing such standards.

When Will the New Standards Apply?

    The new standards will apply only to a certified copy of a birth 
certificate issued 3 years after the date a final rule is published in 
the Federal Register. The new standards will not apply to certified 
copies of birth certificates issued before that date.

What is the Purpose of This Meeting?

    The Working Group wishes to obtain information about commercially 
available paper, ink, and printing services that would contribute to 
making certified copies of birth certificates more secure and tamper 
resistant. The purpose of the meeting is to allow people who are 
knowledgeable about the paper and printing industry to address the 
Working Group in order to aid in the Group's development of minimum 
Federal standards, in anticipation of a Federal regulation on this 
topic.

How do I Register to Attend?

    The meeting is open to the public, but advance notice of attendance 
is requested to ensure adequate seating. Interested parties who wish to 
make presentations to the Working Group must register by no later than 
5 p.m. on February 29, 2000, by:
     Calling Michelle Filippone of the Service at 202-514-3242, 
or
     Faxing a request to Michelle Filippone at 202-305-0134.
    Please include your name, organizational affiliation, if any, 
address, telephone number, and fax number. You may list more than one 
person from the same organization in a single registration, if desired. 
However, only one person will be permitted to make a presentation on 
behalf of each interested party.

How Much Time Will be Allowed for Presentations?

    The amount of time allowed for each presentation will depend upon 
the number of presentations. Those who have properly registered will be 
notified before the meeting of the amount of time allotted for each 
presentation.

May Written Materials be Provided to Supplement the Oral 
Presentation?

    Yes. You may submit written materials to supplement your oral 
presentation. Please submit an original and two copies of any 
supplemental materials by no later than March 15, 2000, to Michelle 
Filippone, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I Street, NW, 
room 7309, Washington, DC 20536. Interested parties are encouraged to 
submit samples of their previous work in security printing, if 
available.

    Dated: February 9, 2000.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3583 Filed 2-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M