BILL NO A02208
SAME AS No same as
SPONSOR Cahill (MS)
COSPNSR
MLTSPNSR Schimminger
Amd S4174, Pub Health L
Authorizes the commissioner of health to issue copies and transcripts of death
certificates, which do not include the cause of death or medical
certifications, for genealogical and research purposes.
BILL NUMBER:A2208
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
issuance of a record of death for genealogical or research purposes
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow the commissioner of health to issue copies of abridged death
certificates for purposes of genealogical studies.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Subdivision 1 of section 4174 of the public health law is amended to
add a new paragraph a-1 that would authorize the health department to
issue an applicant performing a genealogical study a copy of a death
certificate that would not include information relating to the cause
of death or medical history of the decedent.
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, only the spouse, children, parents of the deceased
or the lawful representative of the deceased can apply for and receive
the death certificate of a family member. There are many "family
members" who do not fit into the above categories of consanguinity who
would like to perform a complete genealogical survey of their extended
families but are unable to do so in New York. This legislation will
allow indirect family members the ability to research the history of
their family. It would make available a "generic" death certificate
giving basic information which excludes all sensitive medical records
thus providing the families with privacy.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2013-2014 A1143 - Referred to Health
2011-2012 A173 - Referred to Health
2009-2010 A575 - Referred to Health
2007-2008 A7675 - Referred to Health
2005-2006 A5641 - Referred to Health
2003-2004 A260 - Referred to Health
2001-2002 - Referred to Health
1999-2000 - Referred to Health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2208
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 15, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SCHIM-
MINGER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to issuance of a
record of death for genealogical or research purposes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 4174 of the public health law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (a-1) to read as follows:
3 (A-1) UPON REQUEST, ISSUE TO ANY APPLICANT, FOR GENEALOGICAL OR
4 RESEARCH PURPOSES, A COPY OR TRANSCRIPT OF THE RECORD OF ANY DEATH
5 REGISTERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, WHICH SHALL NOT INCLUDE
6 THEREIN THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF THE DECEDENT NOR THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE;
7 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06162-01-5
