RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS BRANCH

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Vital Statistics Advisory Committee

The Vital Statistics Advisory Committee (VSAC) helps protect the privacy of personal health information and medical information contained in public health and vital statistics in the State of California.

The committee coordinates and oversees the collection, management, and dissemination of these records.

VSAC meetings are held monthly and are open to the public. Membership and recruitment information is available below.

VSAC Responsibilities

Confidentiality & Data Release

Provide recommendations to the State Registrar on the adequacy of procedures for releasing vital statistics data.
Ensure that all data release practices maintain the confidentiality of individuals.

Research Application Review

Evaluate requests for access to confidential birth and death data.
Confirm that each project:

Demonstrates legitimate scientific interest.
Has research significance that justifies access to sensitive information.

Ethical Compliance

Ensure all research involving birth and death certificate data complies with ethical standards.
Verify adherence to the guidelines established by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS).

Meeting Information

VSAC meetings are held monthly and are open to the public, promoting transparency in data access and decision-making.

VSAC Meeting Schedule

2025	2026
January 8	January 14
February 12	February 11
March 12	March 11
April 9	April 8
May 14	May 13
June 11 (Meeting Cancelled)	June 10
July 9	July 8
August 13 (Meeting Cancelled)	August 12
September 10	September 9
October 8	October 14
November 12	November 11
December 10	December 9

Members

VSAC members are appointed by the State Registrar. Every effort is made to ensure VSAC membership is representative of the community. Included in its composition are the chairpersons (or designated representatives) of the Assembly Health Committee and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

Visit our VSAC Members page for information about our Committee members. See our VSAC Member Handbook (PDF) for additional details about membership.

VSAC Member Handbook

The VSAC Member Handbook (PDF) provides guidance and information to committee members, outlining their roles, responsibilities, procedures, and policies to assure that all research conducted using birth and fetal death certificate data is consistent with guidelines provided by the CPHS.

Recruitment

Recruitment for VSAC members is continuous and vacancies are filled from an available pool of applicants. If interested in serving as a member, send a completed VSAC Membership Application (PDF) and curriculum vitae (biography).

Mailing Address:
California Department of Public Health
Center for Health Statistic and Informatics
Research and Analytics Branch
ATTN: Data Reporting Unit
P.O. Box 997410, MS 5101
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
☎Phone: (916) 552-8095
✉Email: HIRS@cdph.ca.gov