The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding fetal death certificates and the rights of women concerning the disposition of bodily remains. Specifically, it would extend the requirement for hospitals, abortion clinics, physicians, or midwives to submit a completed fetal death certificate to the state registrar within seven days to include fetal deaths that occur at or before 20 completed weeks of gestation, if requested by the mother. This change is indicated by the insertion of language that modifies the existing requirement, which currently only applies to fetal deaths after 20 weeks or if the unborn child weighs more than 350 grams.

Additionally, the bill mandates that at least 24 hours before an abortion, the physician or qualified health professional must inform the woman of her option to transfer the bodily remains to a funeral home, as well as the available options for the final disposition of those remains. This requirement is a new insertion into the current law, which previously did not specify this obligation. The bill also makes technical and conforming changes, including the removal of the gestational weight threshold for filing a fetal death certificate and updates the terminology used to refer to the unborn child.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-329, 36-2153, 36-325