Bill > HB939

This bill proposes to extend the timeframe for completing and filing a birth certificate with the Maryland Department of Health from the current 5 days to 12 calendar days after a birth occurs, regardless of whether the birth happens in an institution, en route to one, or outside an institution with or without an attending clinician. This change applies to various individuals responsible for preparing and filing the certificate, including institutional administrative heads, attending clinicians, and in cases of births outside institutions without a clinician, the attending individual, parents, or the person in charge of the premises. The bill also clarifies that the medical information and date of birth required on the certificate must be provided by the attending physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or attending clinician within this new 12-day period. Furthermore, for births occurring on common carriers, the certificate will still need to be filed within 12 days after the child is removed from the carrier, with specific provisions for registration based on where the child is first removed in Maryland or the actual place of birth if it occurred in international waters, air space, or a foreign country.

Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0939?ys=2026RS