Bill > S1540

This bill aims to protect personal identifying information on death records by establishing strict guidelines for accessing and disclosing such documents. The legislation creates comprehensive rules for who can obtain certified and non-certified copies of death certificates, limiting access primarily to close family members, legal representatives, government agencies, funeral home employees, and individuals who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the document. Specifically, certified copies can only be issued to specific categories of individuals, such as the decedent's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or legal representative. Non-certified informational copies will have sensitive information like social security numbers and cause of death redacted, and these copies will include a clear watermark indicating they cannot be used for legal purposes. The bill prohibits reproducing death certificate information for commercial or speculative purposes, with an exception for published research. Additionally, the state registrar is tasked with creating regulations to implement these provisions, including guidelines for research-related disclosures. The overall intent is to protect the privacy of deceased individuals and their families by controlling access to death records and preventing potential misuse of personal information.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1540