1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring a replacement death record when ordered by 
1.3 	the court;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 144.221, by adding 
1.4 	a subdivision; 390.23.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. CITATION.
 1.7 	This act may be cited as "Ryan's Vital Record Rights Act."

1.8 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.221, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.9 	to read:
1.10 		Subd. 4.Incomplete, incorrect, and modified vital records. If a court finds that a 
1.11 	death record is incomplete, inaccurate, or false, the court may order the registration of a 
1.12 	replacement vital record, and, if necessary, set forth the correct information in the order. 
1.13 	Upon receipt of the order, the registrar shall register a replacement vital record containing 
1.14 	the findings of the court. The prior vital record shall be confidential according to section 
1.15 	13.02, subdivision 3, and shall not be disclosed except under a court order.

1.16 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 390.23, is amended to read:
1.17 	390.23 DEATH RECORDS.
1.18 	(a) No person, other than the county coroner or medical examiner or, for deaths 
1.19 	occurring within a facility licensed by the Department of Corrections, the forensic 
1.20 	pathologist who reviewed the death, shall file or amend the cause or manner of death 
1.21 	information with the state registrar in cases of likely or suspected accidental, suicidal, 
1.22 	homicidal, violent, or mysterious deaths occurring in the county. The forensic pathologist 
2.1 	who reviewed the death of an incarcerated person within a facility licensed by the 
2.2 	Department of Corrections may file or amend the cause or manner of death information 
2.3 	with the state registrar. If there is reasonable proof that a death has occurred, but no body 
2.4 	has been found, a judge may direct the state registrar to register the death with the fact of 
2.5 	death information provided by the court order according to section 144.221, subdivision 3.
2.6 	(b) A court may find that the cause or manner of death information on a death record 
2.7 	is incomplete, inaccurate, or false and may order the registration of a replacement vital 
2.8 	record under section 144.221, subdivision 4.