SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2358
As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole

Brief*
HB 2358, as amended, would modify the Uniform Vital
Statistics Act provisions concerning who could certify a cause
of death.

Cause of Death Certifier
The bill would specify that a cause of death certifier
could certify the cause of death of a deceased person. The
bill would define “cause of death certifier” to mean:
● A person licensed to practice medicine and surgery
by the State Board of Healing Arts (Board);
● A physician assistant licensed by the Board;
● An advanced practice registered nurse licensed by
the Board of Nursing;
● District coroner;
● Deputy coroner; or
● Special deputy coroner.
Technical and Conforming Amendments
The bill would make technical and conforming
amendments to implement the bill’s provisions, including
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
replacing references to medical certifications regarding the
death of person by specifying the certification as a “cause of
death” certification.

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Representative
Eplee.

House Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by representatives of the Kansas Academy of
Physician Assistants, Kansas Funeral Home Directors
Association, and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, and by
a private citizen. The proponents indicated the bill would help
expedite the timely filing of death certificates in Kansas by
expanding who can certify the cause of death. The
proponents also requested that mid-level practitioners be
replaced with language specifying certain practitioners who
could certify a cause of death and that certain practitioners be
able to request hospice care for their patients.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to replace
references to specific professions that could certify a death
with references to a cause of death certifier. The House
Committee also inserted language to define “cause of death
certifier.”

Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of the Kansas Funeral
Directors Association, who stated that this bill would address
delays in the filing of death certificates and, thereby, possible
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subsequent delays in the family’s filing for insurance benefits,
among other implications.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
representative of the Kansas Academy of Physician
Associates and a private citizen.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee made a technical amendment to
the bill to make the “certification of cause of death”
terminology consistent.

Senate Committee of the Whole
The Senate Committee of the Whole amended the bill to
remove the immunity provision that would have shielded a
cause of death certifier acting in good faith from civil liability.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Kansas Department
of Health and Environment indicates enactment of the bill
would not have a fiscal effect on agency operations.
Public health; cause of death certifier; cause of death; death certificate; Uniform Vital
Statistics Act


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 65-2412
As Amended by House Committee: 65-2401, 65-2412
As Amended by Senate Committee: 65-2401, 65-2412
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}: 65-2401, 65-2412