Section 17B. Effective January 1, 2000, the clerk of each city and town shall, on or before the tenth day of the month, transmit to the state registrar upon forms furnished by him, the original records of death and any documentation relating to said certificates of death recorded therein during the preceding month or, in case no such deaths have occurred, a certificate of such fact. The clerk in the city or town shall retain a certified copy of the record of said death. Prior to January 1, 2000, the clerk shall maintain all original documents and supporting documentation and transmit to the state registrar a certified copy of each record of death.