Death certificates.

Assembly Member Pellerin's death certificate legislation expands the authority of licensed nurse practitioners to complete and attest to medical information on death certificates for patients in skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities, a role previously limited to physicians, surgeons, and supervised physician assistants.

The bill modifies death certificate procedures by allowing nurse practitioners to document the cause of death, time of death, and other medical data within 15 hours after a death occurs. These practitioners must provide the name of the last attending physician and furnish the coroner with a certificate copy. The legislation also adds nurse practitioners to the list of medical professionals required to notify coroners about deaths involving circumstances such as suspected suicide, accidents, or potential criminal activity.

Additional provisions address the documentation of gender identity on death certificates, establishing protocols for verification through official documents like birth certificates, driver's licenses, or court orders. When such documentation is unavailable, the bill outlines procedures for resolving disputes among family members regarding gender identity recording, including the option to petition superior courts for determination. The amendments also permit the use of electronic signatures for death certificate authentication, though implementation timelines vary by provision.