Vital records: confidentiality.

Existing law prescribes the duties of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics and local registrars of births and deaths with respect to the registration of certificates of live birth and fetal death. Existing law requires the 2nd section of the certificate of live birth, which contains specified information, including birth weight and race and ethnicity of the mother and father, the electronic file of birth information and the birth mother linkage information listed on the certificate of live birth, and the 2nd section of the certificate of fetal death to be kept confidential. Existing law requires access to the confidential portion of any certificate of live birth or fetal death, the electronic file of birth information, or the birth mother linkage information collected under the provisions described above to be limited to certain individuals, including State Department of Public Health staff and the county coroner. Existing law requires the State Registrar to maintain an accurate record of all persons who are given access to the confidential portion of the certificates, as specified. This bill would authorize access to the confidential portion of any certificate of live birth or fetal death, the electronic file of birth information, and the birth mother linkage information to the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the Department of Finance, if those departments agree to maintain confidentiality and request the information for official government business purposes as deemed appropriate by the State Registrar and to the birth hospital responsible for preparing and submitting a record of the birth or fetal death for purposes of reviewing and correcting birth or fetal death records.