HB55 Summary

• Creates the "Genesis Act" requiring the Alabama Department of Public Health to issue a Certificate of Nonviable Birth to parents upon request for nonviable births occurring before 20 weeks of gestation.

• Requires a report of fetal death to be electronically filed with the Office of Vital Statistics within five days after the fetal death is known, if requested by the parent or parents.

• Mandates the State Registrar of Vital Statistics issue the Certificate of Nonviable Birth within 60 days of parental request for reports filed on or after November 1, 2023.

• Certificate must include the date and county of nonviable birth, child's name (if provided or added upon parental request), the corresponding fetal death file number, and a statement that "This certificate is not proof of live birth."

• The fee for issuing the Certificate of Nonviable Birth is set at the same rate as certified copies of other vital records, and the act becomes effective six months following passage and gubernatorial approval.