House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

Posted:	January 8, 2015 02:15 PM
From:	Representative Matthew E. Baker
To:	All House members
Subject:	Confidential Birth Information

In the near future I plan to reintroduce legislation (Former HB 582) amending the Judicial Code, Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, to create an action for the release of confidential birth information. This bill would make it unlawful for any person who receives information under the Right-to-Know Law to publish, republish or disclose in any manner the date of birth. This bill would allow any individual whose birth date is disclosed to bring a civil action and collect damages. The court may award actual damages arising from the publication or $500, whichever is greater, along with reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other relief which the court deems necessary and proper. Additionally, the court may award, in its discretion up to three times the actual damages sustained, but not less than $500. This action would not apply to a date of birth which was obtained independently of a request under the Right-to-Know Law. I have attached a copy of the legislation. PREVIOUS COSPONSORS: CAUSER , GINGRICH , HESS , RAPP , M. K. KELLER , SWANGER , HALUSKA , KORTZ , DAVIS, McGEEHAN , MAJOR , BIZZARRO, SCHLOSSBERG, KAUFFMAN , MARSHALL , MILLARD , PICKETT , READSHAW , O'NEILL , COHEN , PETRI , MARSICO , C. HARRIS , GROVE, WATSON , HARHART , MURT , DENLINGER , MILNE , R. MILLER , STEVENSON , DeLUCA , DEASY, GOODMAN and CLYMER
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Introduced as HB260