PRINTER'S NO. 3364
No. 2576 Session of 1992
INTRODUCED BY KENNEY, RYAN, PERZEL AND FLICK, MARCH 30, 1992
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 30, 1992
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for acknowledgment
3 of paternity.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 5103 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
8 § 5103. Acknowledgment and claim of paternity.
9 * * *
10 (c) Acknowledgment upon birth.--Upon the birth of a child to
11 an unmarried woman, the attending physician or midwife, an agent
12 of either or an agent of the hospital where the birth occurred
13 shall:
14 (1) Provide the newborn's mother and natural father with
15 an opportunity to complete an affidavit acknowledging
16 paternity. The completed, signed affidavit shall be filed in
17 triplicate with the local registrar of vital statistics. The
18 registrar shall send one copy to the Bureau of Vital
1 Statistics and one copy to the Department of Public Welfare
2 and shall retain one copy. A fourth and fifth copy shall be
3 given to the mother and natural father separately. This
4 affidavit shall contain:
5 (i) A sworn, signed statement by the mother
6 consenting to the assertion of paternity and stating that
7 this is the only possible father.
8 (ii) A signed statement by the father that he is the
9 child's natural father.
10 (iii) A written explanation of the implications of
11 and the parental duties and parental rights which arise
12 from signing such a statement.
13 (iv) The Social Security numbers, driver's license
14 numbers and addresses of both parents.
15 (2) Provide written information, furnished by the
16 Department of Public Welfare to the mother, which explains
17 the benefits of having her child's paternity established, the
18 availability of paternity establishment services and the
19 availability of child support enforcement agencies.
20 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
C10L23JAM/19920H2576B3364 - 2 -