Measure pushes creation of birth certificates for stillborns

By Megan Myers
memyers@argusleader.com
Published: February 26. 2007 1:55AM

PIERRE - A House committee Friday passed a measure that seeks to allow the state to issue birth certificates for stillborn infants.

SB206, sponsored by Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton, would let parents of stillborn babies request an official "certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth" document for $10.

Hunhoff said the state only issues death certificates for stillbirths, which can come as a cruel blow to parents mourning the loss of their infant. Death certificates still would be issued.

"This gives parents the opportunity to remember the experience as first a birth ... not as a death certificate that carries a loss," Hunhoff said.

The Department of Health would not use the stillbirth certificates in calculating live birth statistics. There are about 30 stillborn infants per year in South Dakota. They do not count toward infant mortality statistics and would not do so under this bill, Hunhoff said.

Leah Moore of Pierre testified of her experience giving birth to twins in which one baby was stillborn. The family was issued a birth certificate for one baby and a death certificate for the other.

"This bill affects my family and me," Moore said.

If passed, the bill would become law in July. But the measure states that anyone who has had a stillborn infant could request a certificate for any birth that took place before the law went into effect.

The measure also seeks to change the regulations of the disposal or burial of human bodies.

Currently, the law states that infants weighing more than 500 grams - or about 1.1 pounds - may not be buried or disposed of without a permit, and a fetal death report must be filed.

SB206 would change those regulations from 500 grams to "no less than 20 weeks gestation."

Abortion regulations would not change under the bill.

The bill already has passed the Senate. It now will go to the full House for debate.