Assemblywoman Pacheco proposes legislation to allow Californians to include diacritical marks on vital records

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey) today introduced AB 64, the Identity Integrity Act, which would allow for residents of California to include accents, umlauts, tildes and other diacritical marks on vital records, such as birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses. Assemblywoman Pacheco previously introduced similar versions of the bill, including AB 2156 last year and AB 77 the year before.

"After years of dedicated advocacy and collaboration, we are on the cusp of righting a historic wrong,” said Assemblywoman Pacheco. “With strategic adjustments to the bill, I believe that this is the year we will finally enact this critical reform. There is no real justification for erasing the nuanced spelling and pronunciation of people’s names and their cultural heritage. AB 64 honors the diversity of California’s residents, ensuring that every name is recorded with the respect and authenticity it deserves."

Thirty-eight years ago, a Department of Health policy banned diacritical marks after California declared English as the state's official language, disrespecting the multicultural heritage of California residents.

As the most populous and diverse state in the nation, California should not alter people’s names on vital records. In some cases, the exclusion of a diacritical mark even changes the meaning of a name. States across the political spectrum, including Texas, Kansas, Alaska and Utah, have all passed laws allowing for the use of diacritical marks on vital records.

“Our tremendous state should record the actual names of residents, reflecting parental and individual rights, preserving cultural and artistic identity as expressed in names and restoring the historic guarantee of free speech that was eliminated in 1986,” said Assemblywoman Pacheco.

To schedule an interview with Assemblywoman Pacheco, contact Alina Evans at 916-319-2064.