FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill to limit access to birth and death certificates passed the Kentucky House on Friday over objections that people needing quick access to the records would be inconvenienced.

        Rep. John Vincent, R-Ashland, said his bill was aimed at scofflaws wanting copies of the records to obtain credit cards fraudulently.

        The bill, which passed 66-22 and moves on to the Senate, would halt easy access to those records and the personal information they contain, Mr. Vincent said.

        Anyone can now get a copy of a native Kentuckian's birth certificate without the person's knowledge. Mr. Vincent said his bill would give people “the right to control” access to their own records.

        With his bill, the state would allow only a select few to inspect or obtain copies of birth or death certificates. They would include immediate family or an “authorized representative,” which could be an attorney, doctor or funeral director.

        Rep. Bob Heleringer, R-Louisville, said he was unaware of problems caused by people obtaining the records for criminal purposes.

        Mr. Vincent noted at least three instances in which the attorney general's office investigated people who showed up with a “handful” of applications seeking access to others' birth certificates. In each case, the applicant intended to apply for credit cards in another person's name, Mr. Vincent said.

        But Mr. Heleringer said “potentially thousands of other people” would be inconvenienced for the sake of cracking down on a few fraud artists. “It's just overkill,” he said.

        Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, said the bill also could thwart people who legitimately need sudden access to their own records. She cited an acquaintance who was about to leave on a cruise, then discovered she needed her birth certificate, but couldn't get to Frankfort to get it.

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