Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 1799

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Developing a short form for death certificates.

Sponsors: Representatives Hoff, Wylie, Corry, Sutherland, Vick, Paul, Smith and Goodman.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Directs the Department of Health to establish rules regarding the content and release of an abbreviated death certificate that does not include the decedent's cause of death, Social Security number, or parents' names.

  • Allows abbreviated death certificates to be used in any instance in which a government agency requires the submission of a death certificate, but the cause of death is not material to the filing.

Hearing Date: 2/20/19

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

The Department of Health (Department) operates a state vital records system for registering births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, divorce decrees, annulments, and separations. The vital records system must collect items recommended for collection by the federal government. Death certificates must include identifying information about the deceased person, the time and place of death, the circumstances and cause of death, and information about the person certifying the death. The Department and local registrars may issue certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Washington.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Health must establish rules regarding the content and release of an abbreviated death certificate. The abbreviated death certificate must include identifying information about the decedent and information about the fact of the decedent's death, but exclude information related to the cause of death, the Social Security number, and the names of the decedent's parents. In cases in which a government agency requires the submission of a death certificate, the agency must recognize the use of the abbreviated death certificate if the cause of a person's death is not material to the filing. Forms for requesting an abbreviated death certificate must include a notice that the certificate might not contain sufficient information for all purposes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.