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Sen. Hardy introduces bill to correct and predesignate gender identity on death certificates
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Summary
Sen. Ruth Hardy described S112 to allow corrections to gender identity on death certificates and permit predesignation (similar to advance directives); the draft was prepared with Department of Health input and the committee asked for witnesses, including Tucker Anderson and DOH staff.
Sen. Ruth Hardy (Addison District) presented S112 to the Health & Welfare committee, saying the bill would create a process to correct a person's gender identity on a death certificate and would allow individuals to predesignate their gender identity as part of advance directives.
"In Vermont, we've done a lot of work to make sure that all of our official legal documents, allow individuals to have their ... preferred ... gender identity listed," Hardy said, and she noted the exception of death certificates where a person cannot attest after death. The draft would allow corrections using specified prima facie evidence and establish procedures with the Department of Health for filing corrections.
Hardy said the measure was drafted with assistance from staff (including Tucker Anderson) and that there may be a House companion bill. She offered to help arrange witnesses and suggested that the S210 and S112 topics could be combined into a single bill if the committee preferred.
Committee members did not vote; staff will coordinate witnesses including Tucker Anderson and Department of Health representatives to discuss administrative procedures and any legal or operational questions.
