CSHB 159(JUD) - STILLBIRTH CERTIFICATE  9:29:24 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE announced consideration of CSHB 159(JUD). REPRESENTATIVE GATTO, Alaska State Legislature, bill sponsor, introduced CSHB 159(JUD) to the committee. He said the bill would help grieving parents of stillborn children by providing a certificate acknowledging their birth. Existing law provides only for the issuance of a death certificate when a child is stillborn. 9:30:41 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said she understood the certificate would be optional for families. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said every bit of recognition may help a family's grieving process. CHAIR MCGUIRE acknowledged that losing a child in this way is a very traumatic event. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said this bill does not allow the certificate to be utilized for permanent fund dividend or inheritance purposes. He researched other states procedures and thinks this certificate would qualify as "a five-star certificate." CHAIR MCGUIRE called an at ease at 9:32 AM. 9:33:34 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE called the meeting back to order. RHONDA CRAWFORD, representing herself, testified in favor of CSHB 159(JUD). In October she lost her daughter as a result of a stillbirth. At the hospital she was asked to fill out an application for a birth certificate and then was told she was given the wrong form; paperwork for a death certificate was what was needed. It was a devastating experience for her and her family. She said leaving the hospital with a certificate acknowledging the existence of the child would mean so much to families who suffer this kind of loss. 9:37:08 AM JOANNE CACCIATORE, MSW and CEO of the MISS Foundation, Peoria, Arizona, testified in favor of CSHB 159(JUD). She said giving birth to a dead baby is an unbelievably painful and traumatic experience. Several years ago Ms. Cacciatore personally lost a child to stillbirth. Currently she is a PhD candidate focusing her research on women and families that have experienced stillbirths. She is also the CEO and founder of the MISS Foundation providing services to families when a child dies at any age and from any cause. Her home state of Arizona first passed similar legislation in 2001. Since then nearly 20 other states have enacted legislation addressing this issue. MS. CACCIATORE said one in one hundred families will experience the death of a baby because of stillbirth. States tell families they must have a death certificate and pay for final disposition through cremation or burial for a baby they never say existed. She said these women gave birth just like every other woman and invest emotionally, physically, and financially in the baby. Many countries issue birth certificates for babies that are stillborn, but it is still a fairly recent movement in the United States. A birth certificate would offer women and their families a philosophical and psychological piece of comfort and dignity. 9:41:09 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Ms. Crawford and Ms. Cacciatore for sharing their stories. She said it was important for the state to do whatever was possible to make this process less painful for families. CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 159. 9:42:18 AM SENATOR GREEN moved to report HB 159 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 159(JUD) moved from the Senate State Affairs Committee.