BILL WOULD ALLOW NEW STATE CERTIFICATE TO RECOGNIZE STILLBIRTHS

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) announced today that the New York State Senate passed legislation he is sponsoring, Senate bill S.3111, which would allow for the New York State Department of Health to issue a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth."

"This legislation recognizes the ordeal which parents go through during this difficult experience," said Larkin. "It is a way for them to acknowledge the baby and the event that occurred at a formal level. They may even include the stillborn child's name on the certificate if they so desire," said Larkin.

There are currently fifteen other states that have already adopted similar legislation. This new certificate would be in addition to the "Birth Certificate", "Death Certificate" and "Fetal Death Certificate" that are currently issued by the New York State Department of Health.

The bill now goes to the Assembly for consideration.