HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2796

BYRepresentatives Brekke, Prentice and Anderson

Pertaining to birth certificates.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7131)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Parent education is one of the strongest risk factors for indicating poor health outcomes, such as low birth weight, prematurity, and infant mortality and morbidity. Presently, Washington is one of only three states that does not allow parent education information on the birth certificate.  Without these data, it is difficult to compare Washington with other states.  Further, Washington is limited in its participation in data systems operated by the National Center for Health Statistics, because parent education is excluded from the birth certificate.

If parent education were added to the birth certificate, it would be placed in the section of the certificate that is protected by confidentiality requirements.

SUMMARY:

The prohibition against placing parent education information on the birth certificate is deleted. The State Board of Health has authority, by rule, to include parent education on the birth certificate.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 23, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Brekke; Dr. Irvin Emanuel, University of Washington; and Elizabeth Ward, Department of Health.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill is necessary to do important health related research.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.