PRINTER'S NO. 2544
No. 2012 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY J. L. WRIGHT, JR., NOVEMBER 28, 1979
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, NOVEMBER 28, 1979
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), entitled "An
2 act providing for the administration of a statewide system of
3 vital statistics; prescribing the functions of the State
4 Department of Health, the State Advisory Health Board and
5 local registrars; imposing duties upon coroners,
6 prothonotaries, clerks of orphans' court, physicians,
7 midwives and other persons; requiring reports and
8 certificates for the registration of vital statistics;
9 regulating the disposition of dead bodies; limiting the
10 disclosure of records; prescribing the sufficiency of vital
11 statistics records as evidence; prescribing fees and
12 penalties; and revising and consolidating the laws relating
13 thereto," requiring the issuance of certified birth
14 certificates.
15 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16 hereby enacts as follows:
17 Section 1. Section 401, act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304,
18 No.66), known as the "Vital Statistics Law of 1953," is amended
19 to read:
20 Section 401. Birth Registration: General Provisions.--A
21 certificate of each birth occurring in this Commonwealth shall
22 be filed with the local registrar of the district in which the
23 birth occurs within a period prescribed by regulations of the
1 Advisory Health Board. The certificate shall be prepared, signed
2 and filed by the attending physician or licensed midwife, except
3 that when there is no attending physician or licensed midwife
4 the certificate shall be prepared, signed and filed (1) by the
5 father, or (2) in the event of his death, disability or absence,
6 by the mother, or (3) in the event of her death or disability,
7 by the householder of the premises or superintendent of the
8 institution in which the birth occurs, or (4) in the event of
9 the absence or disability of all persons heretofore named, then
10 by such person acquainted with the facts as the local registrar
11 shall designate. On receipt of the certificate, the bureau shall
12 issue a certified copy of the birth certificate to the parents
13 or parent of the child.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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