THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, COHEN, GINGRICH, GRELL, M. K. KELLER, MOUL, O'NEILL, PICKETT, FARRY, DONATUCCI, GEIST AND MURT, MAY 12, 2011

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 15, 2011   

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), entitled "An

act providing for the administration of a statewide system of

vital statistics; prescribing the functions of the State

Department of Health, the State Advisory Health Board and

local registrars; imposing duties upon coroners,

prothonotaries, clerks of orphans' court, physicians,

midwives and other persons; requiring reports and

certificates for the registration of vital statistics;

regulating the disposition of dead bodies; limiting the

disclosure of records; prescribing the sufficiency of vital

statistics records as evidence; prescribing fees and

penalties; and revising and consolidating the laws relating

thereto," further providing for death certificates of death

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without cause of death listed.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 204 of the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304,

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No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, is amended to

read:

Section 204.  Department: Forms.--The department shall

prescribe the forms for all certificates required by this act.

The department may prescribe all other forms necessary for

collecting, transcribing, compiling and preserving vital

statistics. The department shall include in such forms all

standard items which contribute to a uniform comparable

nationwide system of vital statistics. The department shall

provide, upon the request of an individual, death certificates

without the cause of death shown on the death certificate for

any death registered through an electronic death registration

system.

Section 1.  The act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), known

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as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, is amended by adding a

section to read:

Section 508.  Certificate of Death Without Cause of Death

Listed.--The department shall provide, upon the request of an

eligible applicant, a certificate of death without the cause of

death shown on the certificate of death for any death registered

within this Commonwealth.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect June 30, 2012, or

immediately, whichever is later.