Senate Bill 1597, also known as House Bill 1807, amends certain provisions of the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding death certificates. The bill clarifies the definition of "next of kin" in Section 68-3-502(i)(9) by specifying that it includes the person with the highest priority as per Section 62-5-703 and adds a surviving parent of the decedent as an additional category.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Section 68-3-205 by revising the criteria for who can request a death certificate. The new language allows requests from the decedent's spouse, child, parent, or other next of kin, as well as the other parent of a minor child of the decedent, and the authorized representative of any of these individuals. These changes aim to streamline the process of obtaining death certificates and ensure that appropriate family members have access to this important documentation. The act will take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-3-502(i)(9), 68-3-502, 68-3-205