Title 7 — Human Health Care and Safety.

(a) The Court shall cause to be prepared an adoption form for each adoption decreed by the Court. The form shall: (1) State facts necessary to locate and identify the original certificate of birth of the adoptee; (2) Provide only such information as is necessary to establish a ne…

(a) The Registrar shall establish a new certificate of birth for a person born in the District, upon receipt of one of the following documents: (1) An adoption form prepared according to § 7-209; (2) An adoption form prepared and filed according to the laws of a state or foreign …

(a) The Registrar shall establish a new certificate of birth that reflects the new gender designation and, if applicable, the new name of an individual born in the District upon receipt of the following documents: (1) A written request, signed under penalty of law, for a new cert…

(a) The funeral director or person acting as such who first takes custody of the dead body shall file a certificate of death. He or she shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available and obtain the medical certificate required…

(a) A delayed certificate of death may be filed in accordance with regulations issued by the Registrar, when a death occurring in the District has not been registered within the time period specified in § 7-211. Any delayed certificate shall be registered subject to such evidenti…

(a) Each fetal death of 20 completed weeks gestation or more, calculated from the date that the last normal menstrual period began to the date of delivery, or a weight of 500 grams or more, which occurs in the District shall be reported as directed by the Registrar within 5 days …

(a) The funeral director or person acting as such or person who first assumes custody of a dead body, before he or she may dispose of the body, must have: (1) Authorization for final disposition of the body from the next of kin; and (2) a death certificate. If the body is to be c…

(a) Each completed application and completed license for each marriage performed in the District on or after the effective date of this chapter shall be filed with the Registrar and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this chapter. (b) The Co…

(a) A record of each divorce and annulment granted by the Court shall be filed with the Registrar and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section. The record shall be prepared by the plaintiff or his or her legal representative and shall…

(a) The Registrar shall issue regulations governing amendment of vital records, which shall protect the integrity and accuracy of the vital records. A certificate, or report registered under this chapter may be amended only in accordance with this chapter and regulations issued u…

The Registrar may prepare typewritten, photographic, electronic, or other reproductions of certificates or reports in order to preserve the vital records. Such reproductions shall be accepted as the original records when certified by the Registrar. The documents from which perman…

(a) No person may permit inspection of, disclose information contained in, or copy or issue a copy of any part of a vital record except as authorized by this chapter, regulations issued under and consistent with this chapter, or by order of the Court. Regulations issued under thi…

(a) Upon receipt of a written application the Registrar shall issue a certified copy of all or part of a vital record in his or her custody to any applicant having a direct and tangible interest in the vital record. Each copy issued shall show the date of registration. A copy iss…

(a) The Mayor shall issue regulations that prescribe the fee to be paid for: (1) An amendment or correction to a vital record that is not the fault of the Mayor or a District government agency; (2) A certified copy of a certificate or record; (3) A search of a file or record if n…

(a) A person in charge of an institution shall keep a record of personal data concerning each person admitted or confined to their institution. This record shall only include such information as required under this chapter for completion of certificates of birth and death and the…

(a) A person with information needed to complete a certificate or report required under this chapter regarding any birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, or annulment shall give such information to the Registrar upon request. (b) Not later than the 10th day of the month fo…

The Registrar is authorized to match birth and death certificates in accordance with written regulations issued by the Mayor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the fact of death, and to post the facts of death to the appropriate birth certificate. Copies issued from birth certifi…

(a) A fine of not more than $200 or imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both, shall be imposed on: (1) Any person who willfully and knowingly violates any of the provisions of this chapter or refuses to perform any of the duties imposed upon him or her by this chapter or re…

The Registrar may issue regulations as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The regulations shall be issued according to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2.

If any provision of this chapter or its application to a particular person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications.

(a) Sections 7-202, 7-203, and 7-226 (including the authority to issue regulations to implement the entire chapter) shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council of the …

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Agency” means an agency, department, unit, or instrumentality of the District of Columbia government. (2) “Disclosure” means the release, transfer, provision of access to, or distribution of information in any manner by an entity h…

(a) In accordance with § 7-243 and without prior consent from the identified individual, an agency or service provider may use and shall disclose to another agency or service provider health and human services information referencing or relating to the identified individual for t…

The Mayor may establish a single or combined data system to store and share health and human services information; provided, that the system meets the security requirements of HIPAA and that individuals with authority to access the system receive training in accordance with HIPAA…

(a) Before an agency or service provider discloses health and human services information to a service provider pursuant to this chapter, the receiving service provider shall make a written request for the information, describing the health and human services information sought an…

(a)(1) A person who negligently uses or discloses health and human services information in a manner not authorized by this chapter or other District law shall be liable in an amount of $500 for each violation. (2) For the purposes of this subsection, the term “negligently” means …

A person who knowingly obtains, uses, or discloses health and human services information in a manner not authorized by this chapter or other District law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $2,500, imprisoned not more than 60 days, …

If a civil or criminal penalty imposed by another law applies to an action that is also subject to a civil or criminal penalty under this chapter, the greater penalty shall apply.

(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. (b) The Mayor shall submit the proposed rules to the Council for a 30-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, an…

The Mayor may, upon the advice of the Commissioner of Public Health and pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to prevent and monitor the occurrence of cancer in the District of Columbia.

The Commissioner of Public Health shall use the records incident to a reported case of cancer for statistical and public health purposes only, and identifying information contained in these records shall be disclosed only when essential to safeguard the physical health of others.…

Nothing in this chapter or any rules or regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall be construed to compel a person with cancer to submit to medical examination or treatment.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person who willfully violates this chapter or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (b) Any person who wil…

(a) Any person who in good faith renders emergency medical care or assistance to an injured person at the scene of an accident or other emergency in the District of Columbia outside of a hospital, without the expectation of receiving or intending to seek compensation from such in…

(a) A licensed physician, registered nurse, or nurse-midwife certified or practicing in the specialty of obstetrics or gynecology who in good faith provides health care or treatment at or on behalf of a free health clinic operating lawfully in the District of Columbia without the…

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the offenses listed in subsection (b) of this section shall not be considered crimes and shall not serve as the sole basis for revoking or modifying a person’s supervision status: (1) For a person who: (A) Reasonably believes that he or she is e…

It is the intent of the Council of the District of Columbia that the District government shall insure a full range of health, education, employment, and social services shall be available to the aged in the District of Columbia, and the planning and operation of such programs wil…

(1) “Office” means the Office on Aging created by § 7-503.01. (2) “Director” means the Executive Director of the Office on Aging. (3) “Commission” means the Commission on the Aging created by § 7-504.01. (4) “Aged” means a person 60 years of age or older. (5) “Services to the age…

There is established an Office on Aging. The Office shall provide within the District government a single administrative unit, responsible to the Mayor, to administer the provisions of the Older Americans Act (P.L. 89-73, as amended), and such other programs as shall be delegated…

The Office shall be headed by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council of the District of Columbia, from a list of not more than 3 names submitted to him by the Commission. The Director shall devote his full time to the…

In order to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, the Director shall: (a)(1) Serve as an advocate for the aged in the District of Columbia; (2) Contract with, and make grants to, public and private agencies using Older Americans Act funds, other federal funds received by the…

All heads of departments and agencies of the District government are required at least 30 days prior to implementation of any proposed policies or programs that will have a major impact on the aged to submit such proposals to the Director for comment. If the impact of the proposa…

After consultation with the Commission on Aging established by § 7-504.01 the Director shall develop and publish the standards that the Office will use in making decisions on the award of grants and contracts.

The Division of Services to the Aging presently located within the Department of Human Resources, and all positions and unexpended funds presently allocated to this Division are hereby transferred to the new Office created under § 7-503.01.

There is hereby established a Commission on Aging to advise the Mayor, the Director of the Office on Aging, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the public concerning the views and needs of the aged in the District of Columbia.

The Commission shall consist of 15 public (voting) members appointed by the Mayor. At least one-half of the membership of the Commission shall consist of actual consumers of services under this program, including low income and minority older persons, at least in proportion to th…

Members shall be appointed with due consideration for fair geographical distribution, representation from organizations of older persons, public and voluntary agencies concerned with the aged, and members of the general public who have given evidence of particular dedication to a…

Members of the Commission shall serve terms not to exceed 3 years, which shall regularly commence on October 29th in the year of appointment and expire on October 28th 3 years later. The terms shall be staggered so that 5 terms expire each year on October 28th. Members may be rea…

When a vacancy develops on the Commission, the Mayor may appoint a successor to fill the unexpired portion of a term.

The Commission shall develop its own rules of procedure, except they shall provide that the Commission shall meet at least every other month.