H-2183

AN ACT Relating to vital statistics; adding new sections to chapter 70.58 RCW; and repealing RCW 70.58.200.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) To promote and maintain nation-wide uniformity in the system of vital statistics, the certificates required by this chapter or by the rules adopted under this chapter shall include, as a minimum, the items recommended by the federal agency responsible for national vital statistics.

(2) The state board of health by rule may require additional pertinent information relative to the birth and manner of delivery as it may deem necessary for statistical study. This information shall be placed in a confidential section of the birth certificate form and shall not be subject to the view of the public or for certification purposes except upon order of the court. The state board of health may eliminate from the forms items that it determines are not necessary for statistical study.

(3) Each certificate or other document required by this chapter shall be on a form or in a format prescribed by the state registrar.

(4) All vital records shall contain the data required for registration. No certificate may be held to be complete and correct that does not supply all items of information called for or that does not satisfactorily account for the omission of required items.

(5) Information required in certificates or documents authorized by this chapter may be filed and registered by photographic, electronic, or other means as prescribed by the state registrar.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The department is authorized to prescribe by rule the schedule and system for electronic and hard copy transmission of certificates and documents required by this chapter.

(1) If a birth occurs in an institution or en route to an institution, the person in charge of the institution or his or her designated representative shall obtain the personal data and prepare the certificate of birth. The state registrar may authorize electronic birth registration.

(2) If a birth occurs outside an institution, the certificate shall be prepared and filed by one of the following with the local registrar within ten days:

(a) The attending physician or licensed midwife at or immediately after the birth; or in the absence of such a person

(b) Any other person in attendance at or immediately after the birth; or in the absence of such a person

(c) The father, the mother, or, in the absence of the father and the inability of the mother, the person in charge of the premises where the birth occurred.

(3) If a birth occurs on a moving conveyance within the United States and the child is first removed from the conveyance in Washington state, the birth shall be registered in Washington state and the place where the child is first removed shall be considered the place of birth. If a birth occurs on a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the child is first removed from the conveyance in Washington state, the birth shall be registered in Washington state but the certificate shall show the actual place of birth insofar as can be determined.

(4) All items on the birth certificate form shall be completed.

(5) Information deemed necessary for statistical study shall be placed in a confidential portion of the birth certificate and shall not be subject to view by the public or for certification purposes without a court order.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department, in mutual agreement with a local health officer as defined in RCW 70.05.010, may authorize a local registrar to access the state-wide birth data base or death data base and to issue a certified copy of birth or death certificates from the respective electronic data bases. In such cases, the department may bill local registrars for line fee charges associated with accessing birth and death data bases.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 70.58 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. RCW 70.58.200 and 1979 ex.s. c 162 s 2, 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 42 s 39, 1969 ex.s. c 279 s 2, 1967 c 26 s 10, 1961 ex.s. c 5 s 15, & 1945 c 159 s 6 are each repealed.