HB55 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Juandalynn GivanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Alabama Department of Public Health; to adopt the Genesis Act; to require the Department of Health to establish a Certificate of Nonviable Birth form to issue to parents, upon request, for certain nonviable births.

Summary

HB55 creates the Genesis Act to let parents obtain a Certificate of Nonviable Birth from Alabama's Department of Public Health for nonviable births before 20 weeks.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the Department of Public Health must issue a Certificate of Nonviable Birth to parents upon request and create a standard form and process, possibly requiring a health care professional to sign verifying the birth was nonviable. It also requires electronic filing of a fetal death report within five days if the parent requests it and requires the State Registrar to issue the certificate within 60 days after the request for reports filed on or after November 1, 2023. The certificate will include the date and county of the birth, the child's name (or added if missing), the related report file number, and a statement that the certificate is not proof of live birth; parental information cannot be changed after filing except for minor name corrections or a court order. Fees for issuance will be the same as for other vital records.

Who It Affects

• Parents who experience a nonviable birth before 20 weeks gestation and want a formal certificate documenting the event.
• Alabama health agencies and professionals (ADPH, State Registrar of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, and healthcare providers) who implement the process, issue certificates, and handle fetal death reporting.

Key Provisions

• Establish Genesis Act and require ADPH to issue a Certificate of Nonviable Birth upon request for nonviable births before 20 weeks.
• ADPH must adopt a standard form and process; may require a healthcare professional to sign a verification form before issuing the certificate.
• For nonviable births before 20 weeks, a report of fetal death may be electronically filed within five days if requested by the parent, reported under the relevant statute.
• State Registrar must issue the Certificate of Nonviable Birth within 60 days of the request for reports filed on or after November 1, 2023.
• Certificate includes date, county, child name (as on the report or added if missing), the report file number, and a statement that it is not proof of live birth.
• Parental information on the certificate cannot be changed after filing, except for minor name corrections or a certified court order.
• Issuance fee equals the fee for a certified copy of other vital records.
• Effective date: first day of the third six-month period after passage and governor's approval (approximately May 2024).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health, the Genesis Act, Department of Public Health to establish a Certificate of Nonviable Birth