The Senate has approved legislation making provisions to allow for the voluntary registration of births, deaths, marriages and domestic partnerships outside Bermuda.

The Voluntary Registration of Vital Documents (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024, which was taken to the Senate by Lindsay Simmons, the Junior Minister for Social Development and Seniors and Home Affairs, was passed with no objections on Monday.

Amendments will be made to the Marriage Act 1944, the Registration (Births and Deaths) Act 1949, the Registrar-General (Recording of Documents) Act 1955 and the Domestic Partnership Act 2018.

Robin Tucker, the Opposition Senate Leader, said that in principle she did not view the Bill as contentious but asked why, if the process is voluntary, applicants have to pay.

She said: “It seems to me to be somewhat of a discouragement for people to do it now that they will have to pay. What are the key benefits to implementing a fee?”

Ms Simmons said the fee covers an administration cost.

She said as an example: “If someone was born in the US to a Bermudian mother, we can record that they registered their child in Bermuda with the Registrar-General.

“It helps with immigration as well so it helps them when they come back to Bermuda to register. Under current legislation … the registrar can only collect and record data from vital events that occur in Bermuda. We are opening up the gates so that everyone can register in Bermuda if they feel it is necessary, so yes, it is a small administration fee.“

Ms Simmons said the fee is yet to be decided but will be anywhere between $30 to $50.

Legislation was also passed in the Senate for new seafarer medical examination certificate fees.

The fees will be implemented by the Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority under the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2024.

Under Maritime Labour Conventions, implemented in 2016, all seafarers must undergo medical examinations, aimed at safeguarding personnel health and safety.

The BMSA established a seafarers medical examinations programme to allow company-appointed doctors to carry out medical exams and issue medical certificates to seafarers working on Bermuda-registered ships.

The programme has been extended to 33 medical facilities, each requiring to be audited every five years. The BMSA has also improved its mandate, including its administrative capability, to ensure the programme’s effectiveness.

Under the new regulation, an initial fee of $6,000 will be charged for an Approved Seafarer Medical Examination Programme certificate.