Assembly BillIntroducedHealth and Safety
AB 2382: Electronic death registration system.
What AB 2382 does, verified May 16, 2026
The bill aims to update the current death registration system in California by implementing an electronic system. This system will be used to create, store, and transfer death registration information. The state registrar will use modern technology, including computers and mobile devices, to upgrade the system. In addition, certain individuals, such as a physician and medical examiner, will have access to the electronic system. These individuals will be able to access the system in addition to those currently responsible for completing a certificate of death. The goal of the bill is to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the death registration process.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions8 total · showing 5
| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May. 06, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 27, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr. 23, 2026 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr. 22, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 21). |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 23, 2026 · 596 words
| Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2382
| Introduced by Assembly Member Patterson |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to amend Sections 102778 and 102785 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to death registration.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2382, as amended, Patterson. Electronic death registration system.
Existing law requires that each death be registered with the local registrar of births and deaths in the district in which the death was officially pronounced or the body was found. Existing law designates persons responsible for completing a certificate of death and the required contents of the certificate.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to implement an internet-based electronic death registration system for the creation, storage, and transfer of death registration information. Existing law authorizes the State Registrar to incorporate computer or telephone facsimile technology, or both, in the statewide program of death registration.
This bill would require the State Registrar to use updated technology, including computer and mobile telephone applications, to upgrade the system. The bill would also require that specified individuals, including a physician, medical examiner, and local registrar, have the ability to access the electronic death registration system in addition to the individuals currently responsible for completing a certificate of death. The bill would also authorize specified individuals to attest to a death within the system using electronic, voice, or facsimile methods. The bill would require the department to update the system to allow this.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 102778 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:102778.
(a) On or before January 1, 2005, the department shall implement an internet-based electronic death registration system for the creation, storage, and transfer of death registration information.(b) The electronic death registration system implemented pursuant to this section shall protect the proper use of the death registration information created, stored, and transferred within the system.
(c) The electronic death registration system that is implemented pursuant to this section shall be subject to any limitation placed on the accessibility and release of personally identifying information contained in those death records by any other provision of law or subsequently enacted legislation.
(d) In addition to the individuals currently responsible for completing a certificate of death and the required contents under this article, the electronic death registration system shall be accessible by health care providers, including physicians, the individuals authorized to complete and attest to the medical and health section data as specified in Section 102795, medical examiners, and local registrars. The individuals authorized to complete and attest to the medical and health section data as specified in Section 102795 may attest to a death within the system using electronic, voice, or facsimile methods.
(e) In implementing this section, the department shall update the electronic death registration system to allow the individuals authorized to complete and attest to the medical and health section data and time of death as specified in Section 102795 to attest to death using electronic, voice, or facsimile methods.
SEC. 2.
Section 102785 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:102785.
(a) The State Registrar shall use updated technology, including computer and mobile telephone applications, to upgrade the statewide program of death and fetal death registration, including, but not limited to, the issuing of permits for disposition of human remains.(b) This section does not limit the ability of local districts to file certificates of death and fetal death manually within the local registration districts.
Text of AB 2382 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions