The House Health Care Committee heard a staff briefing on House Bill 1157, which would expand the list of family members eligible to obtain a certified birth or death record to include great-grandchildren.

Kim Weidner, staff to the committee, summarized current law: the Department of Health issues certified and informational vital records, and certifications (which carry the legal attestations) are restricted to qualified applicants who document a qualifying relationship. Current eligible family members include a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, stepparent, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, legal guardian and (for deaths) next of kin. HB 1157 would add great-grandchildren to the list of qualified applicants.

Committee staff noted the prime sponsor would be unable to present and that no one had signed up to testify in person; the record shows nine proponent sign-ins and no opponents. With no oral testimony, the committee closed the public hearing on HB 1157 and the bill remains in committee.

Ending: The committee concluded the briefing with staff available to answer follow-up questions; no formal action was taken at the hearing.