FINAL BILL REPORT

                     SHB 2056

                                 C 96 L 91

                            Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Making major changes to the regulation and provision of vital statistics.

By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representative Braddock; by request of Department of Health).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  Presently, Washington state vital record laws do not conform to federal public health recommendations.  Further, no statutorily established process exists whereby vital records can be transmitted from the Department of Health to local health departments.

Summary:  The state Board of Health must adopt rules to include in the vital records the items recommended by the federal agency responsible for national vital statistics.  Strict confidentiality standards must be maintained.  The Department of Health, in mutual agreement with local health officer, may authorize a local registrar to access the state-wide birth data base or death data base and prescribe appropriate fees.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 98    0

Senate   47    0     (Senate amended)

House 94    0     (House concurred)

Effective:     July 28, 1991