File #: Int 1258-2025    Version: Name: Correction of sex designations on death records.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
Committee: Committee on Women and Gender Equity
On agenda: 4/24/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the correction of sex designations on death records
Sponsors: Crystal Hudson, Chi A. Ossé, Tiffany Cabán, Erik D. Bottcher, Lynn C. Schulman, Lincoln Restler, Shahana K. Hanif, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Justin L. Brannan, Farah N. Louis, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Rita C. Joseph
Council Member Sponsors: 12
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish a procedure to request correction of the sex designation on a death record and post an application form and instructions for making such a request on its website.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1258-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1258, 3. Int. No. 1258, 4. April 24, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-24-25, 6. Committee Report 6/3/25, 7. Hearing Testimony 6/3/25, 8. Hearing Transcript 6/3/25, 9. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 10. Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 11. Proposed Int. No. 1258-A - 7/3/25

Proposed Int. No. 1258-A

 

By Council Members Hudson, Ossé, Cabán, Bottcher, Schulman, Restler, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Brannan, Louis, De La Rosa and Joseph

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the correction of sex designations on death records

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-166.1 to read as follows:

§ 17-166.1 Sex designation on death records. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Gender identity. The term “gender identity” has the same meaning as set forth in section 3-162.

Supporting documentation. The term “supporting documentation” means documentation memorializing a decedent’s gender transition, which may include: a court order approving the decedent’s gender change; written communication from a medical professional as to decedent’s sex designation; proof of clinical treatment for gender transition; an advance healthcare directive; written instructions from the decedent regarding their gender identity on a legally executed document, including written instructions on the instrument to appoint an agent to control disposition of remains; or, any documentation of a change to, or proof that an application was submitted by the decedent to change, the decedent’s sex designation on a vital record or a state, federal, or local identification card.

b. The department shall establish a procedure to request correction of sex designation on a death record and shall post an application form and instructions for making such a request on its website. The instructions shall address, at a minimum, who is eligible to apply and the supporting documentation that must be submitted with the application. The application form shall allow the applicant to request a new death certificate with the amended sex designation if such application is approved. If the department approves the application, the department shall correct the death record and any subsequent death certificate shall be issued without marking to show that it was corrected.

d. Where supporting documentation provides conflicting information on the decedent’s gender identity, the department shall accept the most recently dated supporting documentation.

e. A formal sex designation change on the decedent’s birth certificate, state or city identification document, or driver’s license prior to death, or proof of gender-affirming surgery, shall not be required to issue a death record or a correction of a death record with a sex designation that is consistent with the decedent’s gender identity when other supporting documentation is present.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

LH/JGP

LS #18528

7/2/2025 2p