Committee authorizes agreement to obtain New York City death records for county community health assessment

The committee approved resolution 4-20 authorizing the chair to enter into a data-use agreement with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to obtain death records for Ulster County residents who died in New York City. Director Walter told the committee the county's community health assessment, due in December, relies on granular mortality data by ZIP code and cause of death and that while the county previously obtained statewide vital records, deaths that occurred in New York City must be requested directly from the city health department.

Director Walter said the city processes its own death records separately and that the county had already been authorized to receive state-level death records; this agreement is narrowly to obtain city-held records for county residents who died in New York City. A legislator asked about out-of-state deaths; Walter said the state system usually matches deaths to a New York State address when applicable and that out-of-state deaths would be handled through the state process.

The motion was moved by Legislator McCullough and seconded by Vice Chair Lopez and approved by voice vote.