A fetal death report for the death of each fetus which has attained a gestational age of not less than twenty completed weeks and which is not an abortion and reportable as such under chapter 34-23A which occurs in this state shall be filed with the Department of Health, in accordance with rules of the secretary of health promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26. However, the gestational age specified by this section may not be considered a factor in determining when life begins.

Source: SL 1972, ch 194 , § 27; SL 1977, ch 285 , § 1; SL 1993, ch 253 , § 8; SL 2007, ch 195 , § 11.