Gender Change Rule-Making - Sex Designation on Birth Certificates

The Nursing Commission is sending this announcement out on behalf of the Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics.

 On August 22, 2017, the Department of Health (department) filed a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry to consider adopting a new rule in Chapter 246-490 WAC, Vital statistics, to:

• Formalize the department procedure for changing sex designation on birth certificates;
• Create a “Change of Gender Designation” request form similar to the one used by the Department of Licensing;
• Establish a list of medical and mental health providers who can attest to the gender change based on the scope of practice for each profession; and
• Add an option for a “non-binary” sex designation.

Because some people identify as neither male nor female, this rule making will consider changing sex designation to include male, female, and non-binary options when requesting a change to the sex designation listed on one’s birth certificate. 

More detailed information is available at http://www.doh.wa.gov/DataandStatisticalReports/VitalStatisticsData/RuleMaking.

To receive rule-making notices by email, send a request to GenderChangeRuleMaking@doh.wa.gov.

 Questions about this rule making can also be sent to GenderChangeRuleMaking@doh.wa.gov