CHAPTER 2. VITAL STATISTICS LAWS

PART I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

§32. Definition of terms

            As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section unless otherwise provided for or unless the context otherwise indicates:

            (1) "Biological parents" means a husband and wife, joined by legal marriage recognized as valid in this state, who provide sperm and egg for in vitro fertilization, performed by a licensed physician, when the resulting fetus is carried and delivered by a surrogate birth parent who is related by blood or affinity to either the husband or wife.

            (2) "Dead body" means a lifeless human body or such severed parts of the human body, or the bones thereof, from the state of which it may be reasonably concluded that death has recently occurred.

            (3) "Fetal death" means death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.

            (4) "File" means the presentation of a vital record provided for in this Chapter for registration by the vital records registry.

            (5) "Final disposition" means the burial, interment, cremation, removal from the state, or other authorized disposition of a dead body or fetus.

            (6) "Funeral director or person acting as such" is a licensed funeral director or embalmer as defined in R.S. 37:831 et seq. or persons acting under the authority of the state health officer in accordance with R.S. 40:5.

            (7) "Induced termination of pregnancy" (abortion) means the purposeful interruption of pregnancy with the intention other than to produce a live-born infant or to remove a dead fetus and if ¹ such interruption does not result in a live birth.

            (8) "Institution" means any establishment, public or private, which provides inpatient medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment or nursing, custodial, or domiciliary care, or to which persons are committed by law.

            (9) "Live birth" means a birth in which the child shows evidence of life after complete birth. A birth is complete when the child is entirely outside the mother, even if the umbilical cord is uncut and the placenta still attached. The words "evidence of life" include heart action, breathing, or movement of voluntary muscles.

            (10) "Person in charge of interment" means any person who places or causes to be placed a deceased or stillborn child, dead body, or, after cremation, the ashes thereof, in the earth, a grave, tomb, vault, urn, or other receptacle, either in a cemetery or at any other place, or otherwise disposes thereof.

            (11) "Physician" means a person authorized under the laws of this state to practice medicine.

            (12) "Public health statistics unit" means that section which codes, tabulates, analyzes, reports, and coordinates vital records and other health status indicator data for the office of public health.

            (13) "Registration" as otherwise qualified in rules and regulations means the acceptance of vital records by the vital records registry and the incorporation thereof into its official records.

            (14) "Removal" means the transportation of a dead human body or the remains thereof from the jurisdiction of the state of Louisiana.

            (15) "Signature" or "sign(ed)" means a written signature or an electronic signature.

            (16) "Spontaneous fetal death" and "stillbirth" mean the expulsion or extraction of a product of human conception resulting in other than a live birth and when the expulsion or extraction is not the result of an induced termination of pregnancy.

            (17) "System of vital records" means the registration, collection, preservation, amendment, certification, and issuance of certified copies of vital records required by this Chapter and activities related thereto.

            (18) "Vital records", "certificates", or "forms" means paper or electronic reports of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment, and data related thereto.

            (19) "Vital records registry" means a central registry as provided for in R.S. 40:33(A) which maintains the vital records archives and operates the system of vital records.

            Acts 1979, No. 776, §1. Amended by Acts 1986, No. 876, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1251, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 136, §1; Acts 2006, No. 377, §1; Acts 2013, No. 220, §17, eff. June 11, 2013; Acts 2019, No. 100, §1.

            ¹As appears in enrolled bill.