Self certification: an
unknown right
Probably a large number of Italian citizens don't know the
existence of a law which allows to reduce wasting time at town counters.
We are talking about law n.15 which contains norms about self
certification. It came into force in 1968 but it was not used by Public Administration for
years.
Which are the self certifications possible?
When is it possible to use self certification only for a limited period of time?
When is self certification admitted by the law?
When is self certification impossible to use?
What to do when the employee at the counter does refuse to accept it?
Must self certification be always presented in stamp?
This law allows the citizen to self certificate in public offices his state, his requisite or facts of his direct acquaintance avoiding wasting time at the Registry.
In order to show the opportunities given by this right, we can use the example of a citizen who wants to enroll in the Unemployment Office lists and has to present the EMPLOYMENT- CARD and the FAMILY STATUS.
The citizen who already has the employment-card can, under his responsability, declare at the Unemployment Office his family composition whitout going to the Registry for the Family status
the self certification MUST be signed in front of the
Officer where you have to authenticate.
The art.n.4 of the 4.1.1968 law allows the citizen to
declare, to the proper Officer, situations, facts and personal conditions of his direct
acquaintance. This is the typical case of:
Do not forget:
When you have to express situations, facts or personal conditions requested by Public body, until the presentation of the real documents and in front of the attested Officer. In this case the citizen can declare for a " limited period of time" such information.
This limited self certification can be used for public competition.
Here we have an example:
The City announce a competition, qualification: "employee".
In the application for partecipation the citizen must show:
Without presenting the proper documentation.
All those who take part to the competition can use this kind of self certification for
qualifications which, when specified, can give specific points, replacing at first the
proper documents.
But why only for a limited period of time?
Because the citizen who takes part to the competition will have to present the proper
documents when the Administration ask for them. This only in case he has won the
competition or, with reference to the qualifications, in case he has passed the exams.
When they are permetted by the law:
Self certification is not permetted for testimonials and matriculation military papers,
estreats of birth and of civic state,and when, according to specific norms, data must
undergo control.
At firs you have to ask the name, address and job position of the employee, then you can ask him to write down the reason of refusal. At the same time you can inform the Executive of the Public body about the situation.
When the refusal IS NOT JUSTIFIED or the JUSTIFICATION is not produced in 30 days time, the employee at the counter incurs to penalties concerning the art. 328 of the Penal Code for omissions or neglect of official duty.
STRONG PENALTIES ALSO FOR PERJURY
Even perjury is submetted to strong penalties (even jail) according to the art. 26
of the law ,because false self certification can cause serious damages or abuses.
Yes, all the certificates for Public Administration are commonly in stamp.
An exception are the situations provided for by the 8/ 6/ 1962 n. 604 law.
The same is for substitutive declarations or temporarily substitutive.
Only the following declaration can avoid the use of stamps: