(a) The department is responsible for the preservation or disposition of all vital records at state or county offices. To preserve vital records, the state registrar is authorized to prepare typewritten, photographic, electronic, or other reproductions of certificates or reports in the vital records registration system. Such reproductions when certified by the state registrar or the local custodian shall be accepted as the original records for all purposes. The documents from which permanent reproductions have been made and verified may be preserved or disposed of as provided by regulation.

(b) All preserved original or authorized reproductions by the state and local custodians remain the property of the department. Such original or authorized reproductions shall be surrendered to the department when so ordered.