Washington HB 1333: Concerning dignity in pregnancy loss.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to dignity in pregnancy loss; amending RCW 1
68.50.010; adding a new section to chapter 9.02 RCW; and repealing 2
RCW 9.02.050.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 68.50.010 and 2021 c 127 s 7 are each amended to 5
read as follows:6
The jurisdiction of bodies of all deceased persons who come to 7
their death suddenly when in apparent good health without medical 8
attendance within the ((thirty-six)) 36 hours preceding death; or 9
where the circumstances of death indicate death was caused by 10
unnatural or unlawful means; or where death occurs under suspicious 11
circumstances; or where a coroner's autopsy or postmortem or 12
coroner's inquest is to be held; or where death results from unknown 13
or obscure causes, or where death occurs within one year following an 14
accident; or where the death is caused by any violence whatsoever, 15
((or where death results from a known or suspected abortion;)) 16
whether self-induced or otherwise; where death apparently results 17
from drowning, hanging, burns, electrocution, gunshot wounds, stabs 18
or cuts, lightning, starvation, radiation, exposure, alcoholism, 19
narcotics or other addictions, tetanus, strangulations, suffocation 20
or smothering; ((or where death is due to premature birth or still 21
H-0560.1
HOUSE BILL 1333
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Taylor, Stonier, Berry, Wylie, Ormsby, Salahuddin,
Macri, Reed, Hill, Doglio, Scott, Nance, and Fosse
Read first time 01/16/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights &
Judiciary.
p. 1 HB 1333

birth;)) or where death is due to a violent contagious disease or 1
suspected contagious disease which may be a public health hazard; or 2
where death results from alleged rape, carnal knowledge or sodomy, 3
where death occurs in a jail or prison; where a body is found dead or 4
is not claimed by relatives or friends, is hereby vested in the 5
county coroner or medical examiner, which bodies may be removed and 6
placed in the morgue under such rules as are adopted by the coroner 7
or medical examiner with the approval of the county commissioners, 8
having jurisdiction, providing therein how the bodies shall be 9
brought to and cared for at the morgue and held for the proper 10
identification where necessary.11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 9.02 RCW 12
to read as follows:13
(1) Detention facilities and private detention facilities shall 14
report annually to the department of health on the number of people 15
who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while 16
confined or incarcerated in such facilities.17
(2) The department of health shall deliver an annual statewide 18
report to the legislature that details the number of people who 19
experience miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while confined 20
or incarcerated in detention facilities and private detention 21
facilities. The first report shall be delivered by December 1, 2026. 22
The report may not include personal identifying information 23
concerning the individuals who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, or 24
perinatal loss.25
(3) For purposes of this section, "detention facilities" and 26
"private detention facilities" have the same meanings as defined in 27
RCW 70.395.020.28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. RCW 9.02.050 (Concealing birth) and 1909 c 29
249 s 200 are each repealed.30
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p. 2 HB 1333