Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Ferrary
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/1/25
SHORT TITLE Death Certificate by Physician Assistant
BILL
NUMBER House Bill 117
ANALYST Klundt
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
NMMB
No fiscal
impact
No fiscal
impact
No fiscal
impact
Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
New Mexico Medical Board (NMMB)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Choose an item.
House Bill 117 (HB 117) amends the Vital Statistics Act to add physician assistants to the
medical professionals who may routinely sign a death certificate. In the absence of a physician,
nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, the amended section would permit the medical
certification of death to be signed by the physician assistant’s associate physician assistant,
among other appropriate auxiliary medical personnel currently authorized under existing law to
sign.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
No significant fiscal impact was identified at this time.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
No significant issues were identified by the New Mexico Medical Board.
In a similar bill introduced previously, the Department of Health reported that, by allowing a
physician assistant to complete the medical certification on a death certificate, the bill could House Bill 117 – Page 2
allow the process of completing a death certificate to be happen more quickly. Because the
medical certification and signing of a death certificate would not have to wait on a physician or a
nurse practitioner, these staff could address other areas and needs of New Mexicans, and the
timeliness of completing a death certificate may improve for some cases. Improving timeliness
of the death certificate process would benefit families who are dealing with funeral
arrangements, dealing with troubling circumstances, and addressing any insurance or benefit
situations
KK/SL2/rl