WHEREAS, Federal law authorizes the Secretary of State to designate persons to act as passport agents; and,

WHEREAS, a primary requirement of a passport application is a certified copy of certificate of birth; and,

WHEREAS, the Department of Public Health's Population Health Records and Statistics Section issues birth certificates; and, 

WHEREAS, the Passport Office in San Francisco is cutting back on services, and is requiring applicants to make appointments in advance; and,

WHEREAS, the San Francisco Passport Office staff contacted the Department of Public Health and requested that Department of Public Health's Population Health Records and Statistics Section begin to process applications for passports; and,

WHEREAS, these changes will affect the capacity for accepting U.S. passport applications from the citizenry of San Francisco to be significantly reduced; and,

WHEREAS, the capacity for competent and expert execution of procedures consistent with this activity is well recognized to exist within the Population Health Records and Statistics Section; and,

WHEREAS, the residents of San Francisco would benefit from the availability of an additional location at which to apply for a passport and, in addition, be able to receive a copy of certificate of birth at the same location; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the Health Commission recommends that the Director of Health apply to the U.S. Department of State seeking the designation of Passport Application Acceptance Agency on behalf of the Health Department's Population Health Records and Statistics Section; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Health Commission approves the proposal of the Population Health Records and Statistics Section to engage in activities consistent with that designation; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Health Commission recommends the Population Health Records and Statistics Section provide these and other support services as will benefit and expedite the passport application process for the residents of San Francisco.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, June 15, 1999.

Sandy Ouye Mori, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission