HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SHB 2056

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to vital statistics.

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

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

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, March 6, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, March 20, 1991, 98-0;

Amended by Senate;

House concurred;

   Passed Legislature; 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 2056 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Minority Member; Casada, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cantwell; Edmondson; Franklin; Morris; Paris; Prentice; and Sprenkle.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  Presently, Washington state vital record laws are not in compliance with federal public health recommendations.  Further, there is not a statutorily established process whereby vital records can be transmitted from the Department of Health to local health departments.

Summary of Bill:  The state Board of Health is required by the rule 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.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.