Early miscarriage commemorative certificates approved

A bill authorizing the provision of a commemorative certificate of nonviable birth for early miscarriages passed April 11.

LB1040, sponsored by Thurston Sen. Joni Albrecht, requires a health care practitioner who attends or diagnoses a nonviable birth, or his or her designee, to advise the patient that they can request a certificate of nonviable birth.

The certificate will be issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services within 60 days of request for a fee not to exceed the cost of issuing the certificate.

The commemorative certificate will not result in the registration of a live birth or be used to calculate live birth statistics. The certificate also cannot be used in support of a civil action seeking damages for injury or wrongful death.

LB1040 passed on a 44-1 vote.