PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 640, 1547                PRINTER'S NO. 1880

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 577 Session of 1975


        INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. BENNETT, SHELTON, GRING, KLINGAMAN,
           MRS. CRAWFORD, MRS. KERNICK, MESSRS. MRKONIC, RUGGIERO,
           POLITE, OLIVER, DOMBROWSKI, PERRI, MRS. KELLY, MESSRS. TRELLO
           AND TAYOUN, FEBRUARY 25, 1975

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
           JULY 1, 1975

                                     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 NOTATION OF A PERSON'S DEATH UPON HIS  <--
    14     BIRTH RECORD AND requiring the Bureau of Vital Statistics to
    15     issue birth certificates in the name the applicant is
    16     actually using.

    17     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    18  hereby enacts as follows:
    19     Section 1.  Section 806.1, act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304,      <--
    20  No.66), known as the "Vital Statistics Law of 1953," added June
    21  28, 1957 (P.L.433, No.237), is amended to read:
    22     SECTION 1.  SECTION 501, ACT OF JUNE 29, 1953 (P.L.304,        <--
    23  NO.66), KNOWN AS THE "VITAL STATISTICS LAW OF 1953," AMENDED


     1  JULY 9, 1971 (P.L.213, NO.38), IS AMENDED TO READ:
     2     SECTION 501.  DEATH AND FETAL DEATH REGISTRATION:
     3  CERTIFICATES TO BE FILED.--A CERTIFICATE OF EACH DEATH OR FETAL
     4  DEATH WHICH OCCURS IN THIS COMMONWEALTH SHALL BE FILED WITHIN
     5  NINETY-SIX (96) HOURS AFTER THE DEATH OR FETAL DEATH OR WITHIN
     6  NINETY-SIX (96) HOURS AFTER THE FINDING OF A DEAD BODY OR FETAL
     7  REMAINS. IN EVERY INSTANCE, THE CERTIFICATE SHALL BE FILED PRIOR
     8  TO THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT FOR INTERMENT OR OTHER DISPOSITION
     9  OF THE DEAD BODY OR FETAL REMAINS. THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF
    10  INTERMENT OR OF REMOVAL OF THE DEAD BODY OR FETAL REMAINS FROM
    11  THE REGISTRATION DISTRICT SHALL FILE THE CERTIFICATE WITH ANY
    12  LOCAL REGISTRAR WHO SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CERTIFIED
    13  COPIES OF SUCH DEATH. UPON RECEIPT OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE BY
    14  THE DEPARTMENT THEY SHALL NOTE THE FACT OF THE DEATH ON THE
    15  BIRTH RECORD OF THE INDIVIDUAL IF THE DEPARTMENT HAS SUCH A
    16  RECORD.
    17     SECTION 2.  SECTION 806.1 OF THE ACT, ADDED JUNE 28, 1957
    18  (P.L.433, NO.237), IS AMENDED TO READ:
    19     Section 806.1.  Records: Miniature Certifications of Birth.--
    20  (a) Upon application therefor and payment of a fee of [one
    21  dollar ($1)] two dollars ($2), the department shall issue to any
    22  person whose original certificate of birth is on file in this
    23  Commonwealth a miniature certification of the facts of his
    24  birth. Such certification shall be approximately two and one-
    25  half inches by four inches in size so that it may be
    26  conveniently carried for identification and proof as to age.
    27     (b)  Upon application therefor and payment of a fee of two
    28  dollars ($2), the department shall issue a regular birth
    29  certificate in the name the applicant is actually using upon
    30  adequate proof demonstrating the use of the name for fifteen
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     1  (15) years or more, except in the case of children under fifteen
     2  (15) years of age. Adequate proof shall consist of any one of
     3  the following: baptism certificate or other verified church
     4  records, driver's license, social security registration, working
     5  papers, armed service discharge papers OR marriage license.       <--
     6     Section 2. 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.         <--
















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