Bill > HB4368

This bill amends the Michigan Public Health Code to update regulations around reporting deaths, with a specific focus on infant deaths, particularly those involving newborns surrendered through safe delivery mechanisms. The bill modifies existing language to clarify that when an infant dies after being surrendered to an emergency service provider or a newborn safety device, the death must be reported like any other death, but with strict confidentiality protections. Specifically, the death certificate for such an infant must list the child as "Baby Doe" and must not include identifying information about the parents or informant, such as names or addresses. The bill also makes several technical changes to existing language, replacing gendered terms like "his or her" with more neutral phrasing like "the funeral director's" or "the physician's". Additionally, the bill updates references to related laws and clarifies reporting requirements for physicians, including potential misdemeanor penalties for failing to properly certify death records. The amendments aim to protect the privacy of parents who surrender newborns while ensuring proper medical and legal documentation of the infant's death. The bill will take effect 90 days after enactment, contingent on the passage of a related House Bill.

Military Affairs and Security

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4368