Death certificates.

Assembly Member Pellerin's legislation expands California's death certificate system by authorizing nurse practitioners to complete and attest to medical information on death certificates starting July 1, 2026. The bill adds nurse practitioners alongside physicians and physician assistants as qualified professionals who can certify cause of death, time of death, and other medical details required on death certificates.

The legislation establishes specific parameters for recording gender identity on death certificates, requiring certifiers to reflect the decedent's identity as female, male, or nonbinary based on official documents like birth certificates, driver's licenses, or court orders. When such documentation is unavailable, the recorded gender identity relies on information from the informant, unless disputed by those with legal rights to control disposition of remains.

Under the new provisions, nurse practitioners also gain authority to complete fetal death certificates and notify coroners in cases involving deaths without medical attendance, suspected suicide, accidents, or potential criminal activity. The bill maintains existing requirements for certificate completion timelines, with medical professionals required to complete and submit documentation within 15 hours of death or fetal death.

The changes preserve current misdemeanor penalties for failure to notify coroners when required while extending these obligations to include nurse practitioners. The legislation includes transitional provisions that phase out existing requirements as the new system takes effect, with full implementation scheduled for July 2026.