CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

99

Introduced by Assembly Member Patterson

February 12, 2025

An act to amend Sections 102778 and 102785 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to death registration.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires that each death be registered with the local registrar of births and deaths in the district in which the death was officially pronounced or the body was found. Existing law designates persons responsible for completing a certificate of death and the required contents of the certificate.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to implement an internet-based electronic death registration system for the creation, storage, and transfer of death registration information. Existing law authorizes the State Registrar to incorporate computer or telephone facsimile technology, or both, in the statewide program of death registration.

This bill would require the State Registrar to use updated technology, including computer and mobile telephone applications, to upgrade the system. The bill would also require that specified individuals, including a physician, medical examiner, and local registrar, have the ability to access the electronic death registration system in addition to the individuals currently responsible for completing a certificate of death.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 102778 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

102778.

(a) On or before January 1, 2005, the department shall implement an Internet-based internet-based electronic death registration system for the creation, storage, and transfer of death registration information.

(b) The electronic death registration system implemented pursuant to this section shall protect the proper use of the death registration information created, stored, and transferred within the system.

(c) The electronic death registration system that is implemented pursuant to this section shall be subject to any limitation placed on the accessibility and release of personally identifying information contained in those death records by any other provision of law or subsequently enacted legislation.

SEC. 2.

Section 102785 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

102785.

(a) The State Registrar, at his or her discretion, may incorporate computer or telephone facsimile technology, or both, in Registrar shall use updated technology, including computer and mobile telephone applications, to upgrade the statewide program of death and fetal death registration, including, but not limited to, the issuing of permits for disposition of human remains.

(b) This section does not limit the ability of local districts to file certificates of death and fetal death manually within the local registration districts.