ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1341

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 1996

      The Assembly Health Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1341 with committee amendments.

      As amended by the committee, this bill amends R.S.26:8-52 to allow the State medical examiner to sign off on corrections to death certificates. The bill also gives the State Medical Examiner the authority to sign off on corrections or amendments to death certificates relating to the causes or duration of causes of death.

      The amended bill also provides that upon denial of an application for correction or amendment of a death certificate, a person who has applied to a county medical examiner may apply to the State Medical Examiner who may review the matter and amend the certificate or defer to the decision of the county medical examiner. The decision of the county medical examiner shall be deemed the final decision by a public officer in the matter unless the State Medical Examiner amends or corrects the death certificate.

      The committee amended the bill to provide for the appeal to the State Medical Examiner for a correction or amendment to the death certificate.

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 2212 (1R) (Martin/Cafiero) from the 1994-95 session. The bill is similar to Assembly Bill No. 2517 of 1994 (DeCroce), which was reported by the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee during the last session.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996-97 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.