HF2734

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to clarify and update the procedures involved in changing a person's sex designation on vital records in the state of Minnesota. It addresses the process for legal name changes and changes to a person's sex as recorded in official documents.

Main Provisions

• Application Process: Individuals who have lived in Minnesota for at least six months can apply for a name or sex change with the district court in their county.
• Requirements: Applicants for a sex change must provide a letter from a licensed physician verifying they have received or are undergoing clinical treatment for gender transition.
• Parental Notification: If a minor's name is being changed, both parents must be notified unless impracticable as determined by the court.
• Court's Role: The court will grant the application unless it finds intent to defraud, a statutory prohibition exists, or a change is not in the best interests of a minor.
• Vital Records Update: If the sex change is approved, the court orders an update of the individual's birth record and other applicable documentation by the Department of Health or relevant agency.

Significant Changes

• Individuals can now apply to change not just their name, but also their legally recognized sex.
• The requirement for physician verification for a sex change adds a formal medical component to the application process.
• The bill outlines specific procedural steps regarding criminal history checks for name changes, including the need to report approved changes to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Relevant Terms

• Change of sex
• Vital records
• Gender transition
• Physician verification
• Name change
• Criminal history check
• Bureau of Criminal Apprehension