SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 640, 1547, 1880, PRINTER'S NO. 2354 2184
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, IN SENATE, OCTOBER 15, 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 501, act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, <-- 20 No.66), known as the "Vital Statistics Law of 1953," amended 21 July 9, 1971 (P.L.213, No.38), is amended to read: 22 Section 501. Death and Fetal Death Registration: 23 Certificates to be Filed.--A certificate of each death or fetal
1 death which occurs in this Commonwealth shall be filed within 2 ninety-six (96) hours after the death or fetal death or within 3 ninety-six (96) hours after the finding of a dead body or fetal 4 remains. In every instance, the certificate shall be filed prior 5 to the issuance of a permit for interment or other disposition 6 of the dead body or fetal remains. The person in charge of 7 interment or of removal of the dead body or fetal remains from 8 the registration district shall file the certificate with any 9 local registrar who shall be authorized to issue certified 10 copies of such death. Upon receipt of the death certificate by 11 the department they shall note the fact of the death on the 12 birth record of the individual if the department has such a 13 record. 14 Section 2. Section 806.1 of the act, added June 28, 1957 15 (P.L.433, No.237), is amended to read: 16 SECTION 1. SECTION 806.1, ACT OF JUNE 29, 1953 (P.L.304, <-- 17 NO.66), KNOWN AS THE "VITAL STATISTICS LAW OF 1953," ADDED JUNE 18 28, 1957 (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 19750H0577B2354 - 2 -
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 WHICH <-- 6 DOCUMENT SHALL HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN ISSUED AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) 7 YEARS PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE UNDER 8 THIS SUBSECTION. 9 Section 3 2. This act shall take effect immediately. <-- B12L32RZ/19750H0577B2354 - 3 -