|
|
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: HHS DPA 7-4-1-0 |
HB 2184: fetal death; funeral homes
Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13
Caucus & COW
Overview
Extends the seven-day fetal death certificate filing requirement to fetal deaths that occur at or before 20 completed weeks of gestation if the mother requests it. Requires, at least 24-hours before an abortion occurs, a physician, referring physician or qualified health professional acting under delegation to inform a woman of their option to transfer the bodily remains to a funeral home.
History
The Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) is the State Registrar of Vital Records (State Registrar) which is responsible for establishing, operating and maintaining the system of vital records in Arizona (A.R.S. § 36-302).
Hospitals, abortion clinics, physicians and midwives are responsible for submitting fetal death certificates to the State Registrar. The completed fetal death certificate must be submitted within seven days after the fetal death for each fetal death occurring in Arizona after a gestational period of 20 completed weeks or if the unborn child weighs more than 350 grams (A.R.S. § 36-329).
At least 24-hours before an abortion, a physician who will perform the abortion, the referring physician, or qualified physician or health professionals such as a physician assistant, nurse, psychologists or licensed behavioral health professional to whom the responsibility has been delegated by a physician, in the case of a surgical abortion, is required to inform the woman, orally and in person, of their right to determine final disposition of bodily remains and to be informed of the available options for locations and methods for disposition of bodily remains (A.R.S. § 36-2153).
Provisions
1. Requires a hospital, abortion clinic, physician or midwife to file a completed fetal death certificate with the State Registrar within seven days for each fetal death occurring before a gestational period of 20 completed weeks, if requested by the mother. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires at least 24-hours before an abortion is performed, the physician who will perform the procedure, the referring physician, or qualified health care professional acting under a physician's delegation to inform the woman of their option to transfer the bodily remains to a funeral home and the available options for locations and methods for disposition of bodily remains. (Sec. 2)
3. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2)
Amendments
Committee on Health & Human Services
1. Removes the gestational weight threshold required for a fetal death certificate.
---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------
Initials AG HB 2184
1/27/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------