Bill > SCR68

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Health to issue certificates of stillbirth, which are official documents acknowledging the birth of a child who did not survive. Currently, Hawaii does not issue birth certificates for stillbirths, only fetal death certificates, which can be a painful reminder for grieving parents. The resolution highlights that stillbirths are a significant issue, affecting many families and leading to increased risks of mental health challenges for parents. It notes that other states already issue stillbirth certificates and that the federal government mandates the reporting of vital statistics, including fetal deaths, through a cooperative system. Therefore, the Department of Health is asked to assess the feasibility of issuing these certificates, provide them to parents upon request if a fetal death certificate has been issued, and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.