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 ensure the effective enforcement of fetal death registration timeliness requirements, the Legislature should amend state law to require CDPH to regularly notify the Medical Board, the Funeral Bureau, and any other relevant licensing entity, such as the Osteopathic Medical Board, of instances in which registration data indicate that physicians or funeral establishments are repeatedly failing to comply with these requirements. The notification should include the information necessary for the licensing entity to adequately investigate delinquent fetal death registrations.
Description of Legislative Action
SB 1511 (Chapter 492, Statutes of 2024) requires CDPH to no less than annually review fetal death registrations to determine whether there is a failure to comply with the required timeframes for fetal death registration. If the department identifies repeated failures to comply with the required timeframe, it shall electronically notify the Medical Board, Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, or other relevant licensing entity of this timely compliance failure, which shall include the information necessary for the licensing entity to adequately investigate.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2026
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Enacted
Description of Legislative Action
SB 1511 (Committee on Health, 2024) would require CDPH to no less than annually review fetal death registrations to determine whether there is a failure to comply with the required timeframes for fetal death registration. If the department identifies repeated failures to comply with the required timeframe, it shall electronically notify the Medical Board, Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, or other relevant licensing entity of this timely compliance failure, which shall include the information necessary for the licensing entity to adequately investigate. This bill is pending in the Senate.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2026
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced
Description of Legislative Action
SB 1511 (Committee on Health, 2024) would require CDPH to no less than annually review fetal death registrations to determine whether there is a failure to comply with the required timeframes for fetal death registration, and review data completed by individuals or entities required to complete portions of or register the fetal death certificates in order to evaluate and identify steps necessary to ensure compliance with requirements. If the department identifies repeated failures to comply with the required timeframe, it shall electronically notify the Medical Board, Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, or other relevant licensing entity of this timely compliance failure, which shall include the information necessary for the licensing entity to adequately investigate. This bill is pending in the Senate.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2026