(a) The Secretary shall collect, index, and safeguard from fire, loss, or damage each certificate of birth, death, and fetal death.

(b) After registration of a completed birth, death, or fetal death certificate, the Secretary shall provide a copy of the original certificate to the county registrar for the county where the event occurred and the county registrar where the subject of the certificate resides or resided if the county of residence is different from the county where the event occurred.

(c) A copy of a certificate provided to a county registrar under this section may be used by the county health department to carry out public health functions.

(d) A copy of a certificate provided under this section may be photographic or electronic or produced by other means as prescribed by the Secretary.