ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: COM DPA 6-4-1-0

HB 2181: death certificates; funeral establishments; timeline

Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13

Caucus & COW

Overview

Changes the time allowed for funeral establishments or individuals to complete and submit a death certificate for registration.

History

A funeral establishments or responsible individuals, upon receiving and taking possession of human remains, has up to seven days to: 1) obtain and complete the required information on the death certificate; 2) provide on the death certificate the name and address of the person completing the death certificate; and 3) submit the death certificate for registration to a local registrar, a deputy local registrar or the state registrar.

The registrar must register the submitted death certificate, if it is accurate and complete, within 72 hours after receiving the death certificate.

A county medical examiner, who can determine the cause of a death, must complete and sign the medical certification of death on a death certificate within 72 hours after examination. If the medical examiner cannot determine the cause of death within such time, the examiner must enter "pending" for the cause of death and sign the medical certification of death within 72 hours after the examination, excluding weekends and holidays.

If a person under the current care of a health care provider for an acute or chronic medical condition dies of that condition, or complications associated with that condition, the health care provider must complete and sign the medical certification of death on a death certificate within 72 hours. If current care has not been provided, the medical examiner must complete and sign the medical certification of death on a death certificate within 72 hours after the examination, excluding weekends and holidays (A.R.S. § 36-325).

Provisions

1. Increases the time allowed for funeral establishments or responsible individuals that receives possession of human remains to complete and submit a death certificate for registration from within 7 calendar days to as soon as practicable but not more than 21 calendar days. (Sec. 1)

2. Makes clarifying changes. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Commerce

1. Amends the time allowed for completing and submitting a death certificate to not more than 14 days.

2. Clarifies the time period for a health care provider to complete and sign the medical certification of death on the death certificate excludes weekends and holidays.

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6. Initials PB HB 2181

7. 1/28/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW

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