Section 17-185*2. Electronic death registration system

a. Definition. For
  the purposes of this section, the term "responsible person"  shall  mean
  any  individual,  governmental  body  or  division  thereof or corporate
  entity  authorized  by  the  department  to  use  the  electronic  death
  registration system.
    b.  Development  of  an  electronic  death  registration  system.  The
  department shall, subject to  the  approval  of  the  board  of  health,
  develop  an  electronic death registration system. Such electronic death
  registration system shall include an internet based electronic method of
  collecting,   storing,    recording,    transmitting,    amending    and
  authenticating  information  necessary to complete a death registration.
  Such system shall enable  the  department  to  produce  certified  death
  certificates   and  amended  death  certificates,  as  well  as  burial,
  transportation, cremation and disinterment permits, and any  such  other
  related  documents  determined  by  the  department  as capable of being
  produced and transmitted by such system. Such  system  shall,  with  the
  exception   of   certified   death   certificates   and   amended  death
  certificates, be able to transmit information and  documents  to  remote
  local   printers  or  facsimile  machines  of  responsible  persons  for
  printing. Such system shall include  an  electronic  payment  system  by
  which  all  fees,  including, but not limited to, those relating to data
  recordation and the issuance of permits and certified  copies  of  death
  certificates, may be transmitted to the department. The department shall
  ensure that the electronic death registration system be designed in such
  a  way so as to best facilitate convenient access by responsible persons
  in a manner consistent with ensuring system security.
    c. Implementation. (i) By October 1, 2006, the department shall ensure
  that at least sixty percent of all deaths occurring within the  city  of
  New  York  are  registered via the electronic death registration system.
  (ii) By October 1, 2008, the department shall ensure that the electronic
  death registration system is accessible to all responsible  persons  who
  seek  to use such system for the registration of deaths occurring within
  the city of New York and that  at  least  seventy-five  percent  of  all
  deaths  occurring  within  the  city of New York are registered via such
  system.
    d. Emergency events; exceptions. In the event of an emergency declared
  by the commissioner or the mayor, or exigent circumstances  declared  by
  the  commissioner or chief medical examiner on a case-by-case basis, the
  electronic death registration system shall not be required as the  means
  for the registration of deaths.
    e.  Training  and  certification.  By  October 1, 2004, the department
  shall develop a training curriculum and  implement  a  training  program
  based  on  such  curriculum  to  train all responsible persons and their
  designees pursuant to subdivision f of this section in the operation and
  use of the electronic death registration system.  The  department  shall
  ensure  that such training program be offered at least four times a year
  at various locations  throughout  the  city  of  New  York  at  a  price
  reasonably related to the cost of providing such training. Such programs
  may be operated by the department or by a private entity, including, but
  not  limited  to,  health  care  facilities  and  relevant  professional
  associations  and  societies,  pursuant  to  an   agreement   with   the
  department.   At  the  successful  completion  of  such  training,  such
  responsible persons and their designees shall  receive  a  certification
  from  the  department  indicating  that  such  training was successfully
  completed.
    f. Access.  (i)  A  responsible  person  may  designate  one  or  more
  employees  of  such  responsible  person  to  input information into the
  electronic death registration  system  under  the  supervision  of  such

  responsible  person,  but  who  are  not authorized to authenticate such
  information.  (ii) By November 1, 2004, the department shall provide  at
  least  two  computer  workstations  at  all burial desks operated by the
  office  of  vital statistics for the use of responsible persons to input
  information into the electronic death registration system.
    g.  Violations.  Any  responsible  person  who  violates   any   rules
  promulgated pursuant to this section shall be liable to pay a penalty as
  provided  by the health code of the city of New York, the administrative
  code of the city of New York  or  any  other  applicable  law,  rule  or
  regulation.
    h.  Advisory panel. Not later than sixty days after the effective date
  of the local law that added this section,  there  shall  be  established
  within  the  department  an advisory panel to advise the commissioner on
  issues relating to the design, implementation  and  maintenance  of  the
  electronic  death registration system. Such advisory panel shall consist
  of the commissioner or his or her designee, the chief  medical  examiner
  or  his  or  her designee and at least eight additional members, four of
  whom shall be appointed by the mayor and four of whom shall be appointed
  by the speaker  of  the  city  council.  With  respect  to  the  mayor's
  appointments,  one  shall  represent  the interests of private hospitals
  operating within the city, one shall represent the interests  of  public
  hospitals  operating  within  the  city  and  two  shall  represent  the
  interests of funeral directors operating within the city.  With  respect
  to  the  appointments  by  the  speaker  of  the city council, one shall
  represent the interests of private hospitals operating within the  city,
  one  shall  represent the interests of public hospitals operating within
  the city and two shall represent  the  interests  of  funeral  directors
  operating within the city. All members of the advisory panel shall serve
  without  compensation.  The  commissioner  or  his or her designee shall
  serve as the chair of such advisory panel. The advisory panel  shall  be
  convened at least four times each year and shall be disbanded on October
  1, 2009.
    i.  Report.  Not later than six months after the effective date of the
  local law that added this section, and every six months thereafter,  the
  department  shall submit a report to the mayor and the council reviewing
  the development and implementation of the electronic death  registration
  system.
    j.  Rules.  By November 1, 2004, the department shall promulgate rules
  in accordance with  this  section,  and  such  other  rules  as  may  be
  necessary   for  the  purpose  of  implementing  and  carrying  out  the
  provisions of this section. Such rules shall include a schedule of  fees
  relating  to  the  issuance  of permits and certified death certificates
  that are reasonably related to the cost of operating and maintaining the
  electronic death registration system.
    * NB There are 2 § 17-185's