BILL NUMBER: AB 1797	CHAPTERED  07/03/00

	CHAPTER   64
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   JULY 3, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   JULY 3, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   JUNE 22, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   APRIL 27, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 4, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bock
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Aroner, Bates, Longville, and
Pescetti)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Figueroa, Perata, and Rainey)

                        JANUARY 27, 2000

   An act to amend Sections 102405 and 102415 of the Health and
Safety Code, relating to vital statistics.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1797, Bock.  Vital records:  alternative birth center.
   Existing law requires that each live birth be registered with the
local registrar of live births and deaths for the district in which
the birth occurred.  Existing law authorizes the administrator of a
hospital to sign and register the birth certificate if the attending
physician and surgeon, certified nurse midwife, or principal
attendant is not available.
   This bill also would authorize the administrator of a
state-licensed alternative birth center to sign and register live
births under this provision.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 102405 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   102405.  For live births that occur in a hospital, or a
state-licensed alternative birth center, as defined in paragraph (4)
of subdivision (b) of Section 1204, the administrator of the hospital
or center or a representative designated by the administrator in
writing may sign the birth certificate certifying the fact of birth
instead of the attending physician and surgeon, certified nurse
midwife, or principal attendant if the physician and surgeon,
certified nurse midwife, or principal attendant is not available to
sign the certificate; and shall be responsible for registering the
certificate with the local registrar within the time specified in
Section 102400.
  SEC. 2.  Section 102415 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
   102415.  For live births that occur outside of a hospital, or
outside of a state-licensed alternative birth center, as defined in
paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 1204, the physician in
attendance at the birth; or in the absence of a physician, either one
of the parents shall be responsible for entering the information on
the certificate, securing the required signatures, and registering
the certificate with the local registrar.