Report 2023-110 Recommendation Responses
Report 2023-110: California Department of Public Health: Process Improvements Could Help Reduce Delays in Completing Fetal Death Registrations (Release Date: February 2024)
Recommendation for Legislative Action
To improve the average time it takes for fetal death registration statewide, the Legislature should amend state law to require hospitals, or any medical facilities where fetal deaths may occur, to initiate the creation of the fetal death certificate for any fetal deaths that occur at their facilities. In doing so, the Legislature should reaffirm that physicians, or hospital staff as their delegates, are responsible for entering the required medical information into the fetal death certificates and should clarify that physicians must sign the certificates before transferring responsibility for the next steps of certificate completion to funeral homes.
Description of Legislative Action
As of 2/28/25 the Legislature has not taken any action in the 2025/26 Legislative Session to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2026
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
As of 8/29/24 the Legislature has not taken any action in the 2023/24 Legislative Session to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2026
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
As of 4/29/24 the Legislature has not taken any action in the 2023/24 Legislative Session to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2026