Alabama Administrative Code
Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Chapter 420-7-1 - VITAL STATISTICS
Section 420-7-1-.03 - Certificates And Reports

1. Certificates of birth, including registration of infants of unknown parentage; and

2. Reports of fetal death.

1. Physicians who completed ten or more death certificates in the previous calendar year and coroners and medical examiners shall electronically complete and submit the medical certification of death certificates. If a medical certifier subject to this requirement receives a death certificate in a non-electronic format, then the medical certifier may complete and submit the medical certification using any approved format.

2. An institution or funeral home shall electronically prepare, complete, and submit a death certificate unless the institution or funeral home must forward the death certificate to a medical certifier who is not required to complete or submit death certificates electronically.

3. If a medical certifier, institution, or funeral home does not have access to any computer with internet access, the State Registrar may exclude the medical certifier, institution, or funeral home from the electronic-filing requirement. A party seeking this exclusion shall apply for the exclusion by completing and submitting a form approved by the State Registrar.

4. The electronic filing of death certificates, as stated above, becomes mandatory on October 1, 2014.

1. Information collected for birth certificates shall consist of date, time, and location of birth; name of child; sex; plurality and birth order if not single; mother's information such as name, residence, and date and place of birth; father's information as provided in Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-9A-7(f); attendant's information; and information for legal purposes such as certificate number and date filed.

2. Information that shall be collected for statistical research and public health purposes includes additional demographic information on the parents such as race, ethnicity, and education; information on prenatal care; information on mother's pregnancy history, risk factors, and other factors affecting pregnancy outcome; information on labor and delivery; information on the infant such as birth weight, gestation, and other factors affecting the health status of the infant; information on sources of care related to the pregnancy and methods of payment for that care; and other information needed to monitor public health programs. These items shall not appear on certified copies of birth certificates.

3. Additional information that may be collected for administrative and legal purposes but shall not appear on certified copies of birth certificates includes, but is not limited to, mailing address, phone number, and social security information.

1. Information collected for death certificates to the extent known, shall include name of deceased; date, time and location of death; residence of deceased; identifying information on deceased such as date and place of birth, parents' names, and social security number; demographic information on deceased such as race, ethnicity, education, and occupation; marital status and name of spouse; information on the person providing the information; information on disposition of the body; information on the funeral director; the medical certification of cause of death; information on the person providing the medical certification; and other information as required for administrative and legal purposes.

2. If requested, certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in 1991 or after, may be issued without the medical certification of cause of death.

1. Information collected for reports of fetal death may include date and location of the event; name if given; sex; plurality; attendant's information; mother's information such as name, residence, and date and place of birth; father's information if the father has been legally determined; demographic information on the parents such as race, ethnicity, and education; information on prenatal care; information on mother's pregnancy history, risk factors, and other factors affecting pregnancy outcome; information on labor and delivery; and other information needed to monitor public health programs.

2. As specified in Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-9A-13(c), reports of fetal death are statistical reports only and certified copies of these reports are not issued. However, information from a report of fetal death on date, time, and location of the event; name if given; sex; plurality; mother's information such as name, residence, and date and place of birth; father's information if the father has been legally determined; and attendant may be provided only to the parents named on the report of fetal death in a non-certified format as prescribed by the State Registrar. All other information from reports of fetal death shall be considered confidential and may be used only for statistical research and public health purposes.

1. Information collected for reports of induced termination of pregnancy may include non-identifying information on the patient such as age, race, ethnicity, location of residence, education, and marital status; date of event; location of event; information to determine gestation; pregnancy history; type of procedure; name of attendant; other information required by law; and information needed for monitoring reporting of the events.

2. As specified in Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-9A-13(c), reports of induced termination of pregnancy are statistical reports only and certified copies of these reports are not issued. Except as provided in Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-9A-13(b)(5), the only information released from these reports shall be in an aggregate format such that individuals, institutions, or physicians cannot be identified.