Bill Summary: S 3363 — Relates to the authority of a hospice medical director to sign a death certificate

Overview

S 3363 would authorize a hospice medical director to sign a patient’s death certificate. The bill is sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera (primary) and is currently being considered in the Assembly after advancing through the Senate. The stated aim is to clarify or extend the authority regarding who may sign death certificates in hospice settings.

Legislative status and timeline

• Introduced: January 27, 2025
• Senate actions:
  • January 27, 2025: Referred to the Senate Health Committee
  • April 8–9, 2025: Referred/updated with 1st and 2nd committee reports
  • April 9–10, 2025: Advanced to Third Reading
  • April 12, 2025 onward: Passed the Senate (April 10–12 actions noted as “PASSED SENATE” and “DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY”)
  • June 12, 2025: Re-passage/consistent Senate actions indicating continued movement through the chamber
• Assembly actions:
  • June 13, 2025: Referred to Assembly Health (indicating the bill has moved to the Assembly and assigned to the Health committee)
• Related: S 9115 (prior-session), A 1958 (companion bills)

Sponsors

• Primary sponsor: Gustavo Rivera

Key provisions (scope and details not fully provided in materials)

• Core change: The bill would authorize hospice medical directors to sign death certificates.
• Scope and safeguards: The exact conditions, limitations, and procedural safeguards (e.g., who qualifies as a hospice medical director, under what circumstances the authority applies, required documentation, and any coordination with other medical or legal authorities) are not included in the provided summary. Full text would clarify these provisions.
• Relationship to existing law: The bill modifies the authority currently governing who can sign a death certificate in the context of hospice care.

Who would be affected

• Hospice programs and facilities, including their medical directors and administrative staff
• Hospice physicians and clinicians who coordinate end-of-life care
• Families and estates of deceased hospice patients (potentially affecting the timeliness of death documentation)
• State licensing, vital records, and medical examiner/coroner offices that process death certificates

Potential impact

• Administrative efficiency: If enacted, signing authority could streamline death certification within hospice programs, potentially reducing delays.
• Continuity of care and documentation: May improve consistency of records for patients dying under hospice care.
• Safeguards and oversight: The bill would raise questions about safeguards to ensure proper validation of death, consistency with state law, and coordination with other authorities.

For readers seeking more detail, the full bill text will specify the exact conditions, definitions (e.g., who qualifies as a “hospice medical director”), and any required procedures or endorsements that accompany death certificate signing.