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H.B. 254

             1     

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AUTHORITY -

             2     
DEATH CERTIFICATES

             3     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Sheldon L. Killpack

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends the Vital Statistics Act and the Motor Vehicle Act.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    amends definitions in the Vital Statistics Act;
             14          .    except for fetal deaths, authorizes a nurse practitioner in certain circumstances to
             15      state or certify cause of death, and complete and sign a death certificate;
             16          .    provides additional definitions in the Motor Vehicle Act; and
             17          .    allows a nurse practitioner to certify that a person has a disability, and will have the
             18      disability for a particular length of time, for purposes of obtaining a disability
             19              special group license plate, a temporary removable windshield placard, or a
             20              removable windshield placard from the Motor Vehicle Division.
             21      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:
             27          26-2-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 56


             28          26-2-13, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 32
             29          26-2-16, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 56
             30          41-1a-420, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             31     
             32      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             33          Section 1. Section 26-2-2 is amended to read:
             34           26-2-2. Definitions.
             35          As used in this chapter:
             36          (1) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means a person licensed to practice as an
             37      advanced practice registered nurse in this state under Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act.
             38          [(1)] (2) "Custodial funeral service director" means a funeral service director who:
             39          (a) is employed by a licensed funeral establishment; and
             40          (b) has custody of a dead body.
             41          [(2)] (3) "Dead body" or "decedent" means a human body or parts of the human body
             42      from the condition of which it reasonably may be concluded that death occurred.
             43          [(3)] (4) "Dead fetus" means a product of human conception:
             44          (a) of 20 weeks' gestation or more, calculated from the date the last normal menstrual
             45      period began to the date of delivery; and
             46          (b) that was not born alive.
             47          [(4)] (5) "Declarant father" means a male who claims to be the genetic father of a child,
             48      and, along with the biological mother, signs a voluntary declaration of paternity to establish the
             49      child's paternity.
             50          [(5)] (6) "File" means the submission of a completed certificate or other similar
             51      document, record, or report as provided under this chapter for registration by the state registrar
             52      or a local registrar.
             53          [(6)] (7) "Funeral service director" is as defined in Section 58-9-102 .
             54          [(7)] (8) "Health care facility" is as defined in Section 26-21-2 .
             55          (9) "Health care professional" means a physician or nurse practitioner.
             56          [(8)] (10) "Licensed funeral establishment" means a funeral service establishment, as
             57      defined in Section 58-9-102 , that is licensed under Title 58, Chapter 9, Funeral Services
             58      Licensing Act.


             59          [(9)] (11) "Live birth" means the birth of a child who shows evidence of life after it is
             60      entirely outside of the mother.
             61          [(10)] (12) "Local registrar" means a person appointed under Subsection 26-2-3 (2)(b).
             62          (13) "Nurse practitioner" means an advanced practice registered nurse specializing as a
             63      nurse practitioner who:
             64          (a) has completed an education program regarding the completion of a certificate of
             65      death developed by the department by administrative rule adopted in accordance with Title
             66      63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
             67          (b) is in independent practice or a group practice; and
             68          (c) is not employed by a health care facility licensed under Chapter 21, Health Care
             69      Facility Licensing and Inspection Act.
             70          [(11)] (14) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice as a physician or osteopath
             71      in this state under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act or Chapter 68, Utah
             72      Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
             73          [(12)] (15) "Presumed father" means the father of a child conceived or born during a
             74      marriage as defined in Section 30-1-17.2 .
             75          [(13)] (16) "Registration" or "register" means acceptance by the local or state registrar
             76      of a certificate and incorporation of it into the permanent records of the state.
             77          [(14)] (17) "State registrar" means the state registrar of vital records appointed under
             78      Subsection 26-2-3 (1)(e).
             79          [(15)] (18) "Vital records" means registered certificates or reports of birth, death, fetal
             80      death, marriage, divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment, amendments to any of these
             81      registered certificates or reports, and other similar documents.
             82          [(16)] (19) "Vital statistics" means the data derived from registered certificates and
             83      reports of birth, death, fetal death, induced termination of pregnancy, marriage, divorce,
             84      dissolution of marriage, or annulment.
             85          Section 2. Section 26-2-13 is amended to read:
             86           26-2-13. Certificate of death -- Execution and registration requirements.
             87          (1) (a) A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with
             88      the local registrar of the district in which the death occurs, or as otherwise directed by the state
             89      registrar, within five days after death and prior to the decedent's interment, any other disposal,


             90      or removal from the registration district where the death occurred.
             91          (b) A certificate of death shall be registered if it is completed and filed in accordance
             92      with this chapter.
             93          (2) (a) If the place of death is unknown but the dead body is found in this state, the
             94      certificate of death shall be completed and filed in accordance with this section.
             95          (b) The place where the dead body is found shall be shown as the place of death.
             96          (c) If the date of death is unknown, the date shall be determined by approximation.
             97          (3) (a) When death occurs in a moving conveyance in the United States and the
             98      decedent is first removed from the conveyance in this state:
             99          (i) the certificate of death shall be filed with:
             100          (A) the local registrar of the district where the decedent is removed; or
             101          (B) a person designated by the state registrar; and
             102          (ii) the place where the decedent is removed shall be considered the place of death.
             103          (b) When a death occurs on a moving conveyance outside the United States and the
             104      decedent is first removed from the conveyance in this state:
             105          (i) the certificate of death shall be filed with:
             106          (A) the local registrar of the district where the decedent is removed; or
             107          (B) a person designated by the state registrar; and
             108          (ii) the certificate of death shall show the actual place of death to the extent it can be
             109      determined.
             110          (4) (a) The custodial funeral service director shall sign the certificate of death.
             111          (b) The custodial funeral service director or an agent of the custodial funeral service
             112      director shall:
             113          (i) file the certificate of death prior to any disposition of a dead body or fetus; and
             114          (ii) obtain the decedent's personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person
             115      or source available including the decedent's Social Security number, if known; however, the
             116      certificate of death may not include the decedent's Social Security number.
             117          (5) (a) [The] Except as provided in Section 26-2-14 , fetal death certificates, the
             118      medical section of the certificate of death shall be completed, signed, and returned to the
             119      funeral service director within 72 hours after death by the [physician] health care professional
             120      who was in charge of the decedent's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death,


             121      except when inquiry is required by Title 26, Chapter 4, Utah Medical Examiner Act.
             122          (b) In the absence of the [physician] health care professional or with the [physician's]
             123      health care professional's approval, the certificate of death may be completed and signed by an
             124      associate physician, the chief medical officer of the institution in which death occurred, or a
             125      physician who performed an autopsy upon the decedent, provided the person has access to the
             126      medical history of the case, views the decedent at or after death, and death is not due to causes
             127      required to be investigated by the medical examiner.
             128          (6) When death occurs more than 30 days after the decedent was last treated by a
             129      [physician] health care professional, the case shall be referred to the medical examiner for
             130      investigation to determine and certify the cause, date, and place of death.
             131          (7) When inquiry is required by Title 26, Chapter 4, Utah Medical Examiner Act, the
             132      medical examiner shall make an investigation and complete and sign the medical section of the
             133      certificate of death within 72 hours after taking charge of the case.
             134          (8) If the cause of death cannot be determined within 72 hours after death:
             135          (a) the medical section of the certificate of death shall be completed as provided by
             136      department rule;
             137          (b) the attending [physician] health care professional or medical examiner shall give
             138      the funeral service director notice of the reason for the delay; and
             139          (c) final disposition of the decedent may not be made until authorized by the attending
             140      [physician] health care professional or medical examiner.
             141          (9) (a) When a death is presumed to have occurred within this state but the dead body
             142      cannot be located, a certificate of death may be prepared by the state registrar upon receipt of
             143      an order of a Utah district court.
             144          (b) The order described in Subsection (9)(a) shall include a finding of fact stating the
             145      name of the decedent, the date of death, and the place of death.
             146          (c) A certificate of death prepared under Subsection (9)(a) shall:
             147          (i) show the date of registration; and
             148          (ii) identify the court and date of the order.
             149          Section 3. Section 26-2-16 is amended to read:
             150           26-2-16. Certificate of death -- Duties of a custodial funeral service director or
             151      agent -- Medical certification -- Records of funeral service director -- Information filed


             152      with local registrar -- Unlawful signing of certificate of death.
             153          (1) The custodial funeral service director shall sign the certificate of death prior to any
             154      disposition of a dead body or dead fetus.
             155          (2) The custodial funeral service director or an agent of the custodial funeral service
             156      director shall:
             157          (a) obtain personal and statistical information regarding the decedent from the
             158      available persons best qualified to provide the information;
             159          (b) present the certificate of death to the attending [physician] health care professional,
             160      if any, or to the medical examiner who shall certify the cause of death and other information
             161      required on the certificate of death;
             162          (c) provide the address of the custodial funeral service director;
             163          (d) certify the date and place of burial; and
             164          (e) file the certificate of death with the state or local registrar.
             165          (3) A funeral service director, embalmer, or other person who removes from the place
             166      of death or transports or is in charge of final disposal of a dead body or dead fetus, shall keep a
             167      record identifying the dead body or dead fetus, and containing information pertaining to
             168      receipt, removal, and delivery of the dead body or dead fetus as prescribed by department rule.
             169          (4) (a) Not later than the tenth day of each month, every licensed funeral service
             170      establishment shall send to the local registrar and the department a list of the information
             171      required in Subsection (3) for each casket furnished and for funerals performed when no casket
             172      was furnished, during the preceding month.
             173          (b) The list described in Subsection (4)(a) shall be in the form prescribed by the state
             174      registrar.
             175          (5) Any person who intentionally signs the portion of a certificate of death that is
             176      required to be signed by a funeral service director under Subsection (1) is guilty of a class B
             177      misdemeanor, unless the person:
             178          (a) is a funeral service director; and
             179          (b) is employed by a licensed funeral establishment.
             180          Section 4. Section 41-1a-420 is amended to read:
             181           41-1a-420. Disability special group license plates -- Application and qualifications
             182      -- Rulemaking.


             183          (1) As used in this section:
             184          (a) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means a person licensed to practice as an
             185      advanced practice registered nurse in this state under Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act.
             186          (b) "Nurse practitioner" means an advanced practice registered nurse specializing as a
             187      nurse practitioner.
             188          (c) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice as a physician or osteopath in this
             189      state under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act or Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic
             190      Medical Practice Act.
             191          [(1)] (2) The division shall issue a disability special group license plate, a temporary
             192      removable windshield placard, or a removable windshield placard to:
             193          (a) a qualifying person with a disability; or
             194          (b) the registered owner of a vehicle that an organization uses primarily for the
             195      transportation of persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk.
             196          [(2)] (3) (a) The initial application of a person with a disability shall be accompanied
             197      by the certification of a [licensed] physician or nurse practitioner:
             198          (i) that the applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability that limits or
             199      impairs the ability to walk as defined in the federal Uniform System for Parking for Persons
             200      with Disabilities, 23 C.F.R. Ch. 11, Subch. B, Pt. 1235.2 (1991); and
             201          (ii) [containing] specifying the period of time that the physician or nurse practitioner
             202      determines the applicant will have the disability, not to exceed six months in the case of a
             203      temporary disability.
             204          (b) The division shall issue a [person with a] disability special group license plate or a
             205      removable windshield placard to a person with a permanent disability.
             206          (c) The issuance of a person with a disability special group license plate does not
             207      preclude the issuance to the same applicant of a removable windshield placard.
             208          (d) On request of an applicant with a disability special group license plate, temporary
             209      removable windshield placard, or a removable windshield placard the division shall issue one
             210      additional placard.
             211          (e) A disability special group license plate, temporary removable windshield placard,
             212      or removable windshield placard may be used to allow one motorcycle to share a parking space
             213      reserved for persons with a disability if:


             214          (i) the person with a disability:
             215          (A) is using a motorcycle; and
             216          (B) displays on the motorcycle a disability special group license plate, temporary
             217      removable windshield placard, or a removable windshield placard;
             218          (ii) the person who shares the parking space assists the person with a disability with the
             219      parking accommodation; and
             220          (iii) the parking space is sufficient size to accommodate both motorcycles without
             221      interfering with other parking spaces or traffic movement.
             222          [(3)] (4) (a) The temporary removable windshield placard or removable windshield
             223      placard shall be hung from the front windshield rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked in a
             224      parking space reserved for persons with disabilities so that it is visible from the front and rear
             225      of the vehicle.
             226          (b) If a motorcycle is being used, the temporary removable windshield placard or
             227      removable windshield placard shall be displayed in plain sight on or near the handle bars of the
             228      motorcycle.
             229          [(4)] (5) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
             230      Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
             231          (a) establish qualifying criteria for persons to receive, renew, or surrender special group
             232      license plates, a temporary removable windshield placard, or a removable windshield placard in
             233      accordance with this section;
             234          (b) establish the maximum number of numerals or characters for disability special
             235      group license plates; and
             236          (c) require all temporary removable windshield placards and removable windshield
             237      placards to include:
             238          (i) an identification number;
             239          (ii) an expiration date not to exceed:
             240          (A) six months for a temporary removable windshield placard; and
             241          (B) two years for a removable windshield placard; and
             242          (iii) the seal or other identifying mark of the division.





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    as of 12-31-08 8:03 AM


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