Certificates of death: gender identity.
Summary
Existing law requires that each death be registered with the local registrar of births and deaths in the district in which the death was officially pronounced or the body was found. Existing law designates persons responsible for completing a certificate of death and the required contents of the certificate, including, but not limited to, the decedent's name, sex, race, and other relevant identifying and medical information. Certain violations of these requirements are a crime. Existing law requires a person completing the certificate of death to record the decedent's gender identity as reported by the informant, unless the person is presented with specified legal documents showing a different gender identity. Existing law requires the person completing the certificate of death to record the decedent's gender identity as indicated in the specified legal documents, or if the specified documents are not presented, as indicated by the person or a majority of persons with control over the disposition of the remains, as specified. This bill would authorize the decedent's gender identity to be recorded as female, male, or nonbinary.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2021
Committee Review
Jun 2021
Assembly Passage
Apr 2021
Senate Passage
Jun 2021
Signed into Law
Jul 2021
Introduced Feb 4, 2021
Signed Jul 9, 2021
Floor votes · Senate Jun 21, 2021 · Assembly Apr 19, 2021
How they voted
30–5
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 37
Jun 21, 2021
D
Democratic29
100% Yea
R
Republican8
62% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Amendments
3
Jul 9, 2021
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
legislature
Jun 24, 2021
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 0. Page 2089.).
lower
Jun 21, 2021
Introduced
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after June 23 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.
lower
Jun 21, 2021
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 6. Page 1577.).
upper
Jun 15, 2021
Upper · Passed
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
upper
Jun 10, 2021
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (June 10).
upper
May 12, 2021
Committee
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
upper
Apr 19, 2021
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 2. Page 1065.)
lower
Apr 7, 2021
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 6).
lower
Feb 12, 2021
Committee
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
lower
Feb 5, 2021
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 7.
lower
1 primary · 12 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Lee
DDemocratic
Co
Chris Ward
DDemocratic
Co
Cristina Garcia
DDemocratic
Co
David Chiu
DDemocratic
Co
Evan Low
DDemocratic
Co
John Laird
DDemocratic
Co
Laura Friedman
DDemocratic
Co
Mark Stone
DDemocratic
Co
Sabrina Cervantes
DDemocratic
Co
Scott Wiener
DDemocratic
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