Committee approves adding APRNs to providers who can attest to birth-certificate changes

HB 1452 would add advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to the list of health providers who may file or certify information for birth-certificate changes. Lauren Kim (planning and policy officer, Department of Health) told members the department supports the bill as consistent with more than 15 years of policy expanding APRN authorities.

Supporters said the change is needed to expand access to foundational documents, particularly for transgender, mahu and gender-nonconforming people who may rely on APRNs at community clinics. Nikos Leverenz (Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center) said the bill reduces barriers "to obtain birth certificates that comport with their gender identity," and Abby Simmons (chair, Stonewall caucus) said the measure is common-sense extension of existing authority.

Members asked whether minors' requests to change a birth certificate require parental consent and whether the bill changes chain-of-custody or sealing procedures. DOH responded that existing statutes lay out those procedures and that the bill only adds APRNs to the class of authorized certifiers; Lauren Kim said she would confirm whether parental consent is required for minors and report back to the committee.

The committee moved HB 1452 forward as a house draft with a defective date; DOH will provide follow-up on parental-consent procedures.