Permits midwives and physician assistants to certify the cause of death on a fetal death certificate

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Permits midwives and physician assistants to certify the cause of death on a fetal death certificate if they are in attendance at or after a fetal death.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A1351, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Public Health Law.

Committee

Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Health · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Permits midwives and physician assistants in attendance at or after a fetal death to certify the birth and cause of death on the fetal death certificate.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Health
Senate HealthApr 29, 2025Result: passed
(14) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Amanda Septimo, Cordell Cleare and 10 more on Agora

Democratic12

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Gustavo Rivera says this is needed

Under current state law, physicians and nurse practitioners in attend- ance at a fetal death can certify the birth and cause of death on a fetal death certificate and categorize fetal deaths attended by midwives as "death without medical attendance." Midwives already certify the birth of newborns and this bill would allow midwives to certify the death. Midwives who work in labor and delivery are also there to console griev- ing parents and families if a fetal death occurs, so being unable to certify death creates delays that prolong the immediate and unimaginable grief stage. Prolonging such a traumatic experience at this delicate time adversely affects maternal mental health. Families are unable to make arrangements for burial and must wait until a doctor shows up to sign. Sometimes this can take days and becomes particularly stressful for the family. This bill would allow midwives and physician assistants to certify death on a fetal death certificate to expedite patient care.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Jan 7, 2026
Died in Senate
DIED IN SENATE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.49
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.49
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate
Apr 29, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Mar 3, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly

Show full history (6 earlier events)

Mar 3, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Mar 3, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.28
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.28
NY Assembly
Feb 24, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Feb 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate
Jan 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 2, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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