(a) The town clerk of any town who is, ex officio, registrar of vital statistics in such town, and the registrar of vital statistics of any town who is elected under a special law or otherwise appointed pursuant to law, may, unless otherwise provided by charter or ordinance, appoint in writing suitable persons as assistant registrars of vital statistics, who, on being sworn, shall have the powers and perform the duties of such registrar during the time for which they are appointed, not extending beyond the term of office of such registrar. Not later than ten days after a town clerk or registrar of vital statistics appoints an assistant registrar of vital statistics, the town clerk or registrar of vital statistics shall file a notice of such appointment with the Secretary of the State, indicating the name and address of the person appointed, the date and method of such appointment and the law under which the appointment was made. Not later than ten days after a vacancy occurs in the office of assistant registrar of vital statistics, the town clerk or registrar of vital statistics shall notify the Secretary of the State of such vacancy.

(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the registrar of vital statistics shall, not later than ten days after the date of appointment of an assistant registrar or a vacancy occurring in the office of assistant registrar of vital statistics, provide written notice to the Commissioner of Public Health of such appointment or vacancy.