1239

The Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized to copy in photographic film, by means of the process known as 'microfilm' and/or any other adequate process, all birth, marriage, and death certificates or registrations entered in the books of the old Civil Registry of Puerto Rico, as organized in the Commonwealth from January 1, 1885 to July 21, 1931. To ensure greater efficiency in this task, the Secretary may direct the temporary removal to the Department, for the purpose of copying them, of such books of the old Civil Registry as in his judgment may be necessary; Provided, That the Secretary of Health or any other official or person in charge of the Registry of Vital Statistics shall be under obligation to conserve the original documents.\nHistory —May 13, 1947, No. 370, p. 710, § 1; June 13, 1962, No. 38, p. 89, § 1.