This bill introduces new provisions that allow birth mothers to opt out of sharing specific personal information from their birth worksheets with state agencies, thereby enhancing their privacy rights. It mandates that birth mothers receive written notice regarding the sharing of their information with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and other state agencies. This notice will detail the purposes for which the information is shared and provide the mother with the option to limit the disclosure to only what is necessary for vital records and public health. If the mother opts to limit the disclosure, her decision will be documented in her medical record, and all personal identifiers will be redacted before any statistical information is shared. The bill also requires the DHHS and the Division of Vital Records to amend their memorandum of understanding to ensure compliance with these new privacy measures by November 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law (RSA 5-C:19, VII) regarding the collection of vital records data, particularly focusing on the information provided by birth mothers. The new legal language enhances the Office of Health Equity's ability to analyze disparities related to youth, children, and birth, especially concerning geographic factors. The bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions, and while it is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts, there is a potential risk of jeopardizing federal funding for health-related programs if the sharing of vital records data is restricted. Overall, the proposed changes aim to improve the quality and completeness of vital records data for better health equity analysis while ensuring the privacy rights of birth mothers are respected.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 5-C:19, 126:24-cc