SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 2300

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                               FEBRUARY 24, 1992

Brief Description:  Revising the procedures for death certificates.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representative Peery)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Madsen, and Sutherland.

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: February 24, 1992

BACKGROUND:

A system of state and local registers exists for the filing and retention of vital documents, such as death certificates.

A death certificate must include the cause of death as certified by the attending physician or by the health officer or coroner if there is no attending physician.  The local registrar issues a burial-transit permit when a complete death certificate is filed that includes a cause of death.  However, a permit for the disposition of a body may be issued if requested when the cause of death cannot be determined within three days.  It has been suggested that current law is unclear and outdated.

SUMMARY:

The Vital Statistics Task Force is created consisting of the Secretary of Health or a designee, the chair of the House of Representatives Local Government Committee or a designee, and the chair of the Senate Governmental Operations Committee or a designee.

The task force shall create a working group to provide information and advice to the task force.  The working group consists of representatives of interest groups such as local health officers, funeral directors, physicians, and coroners.

The task force shall report to the Local Government Committee of the House of Representatives and Government Operations Committee by December 4, 1992, on a variety of matters relating to vital statistics, including the filing of death certificates, issuance of permits, timely disposition of remains and interstate transportation of the deceased.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one