PRINTER'S NO. 1638
No. 1400 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY DORR, RICHARDSON, CLYMER, TIGUE, RAYMOND, ITKIN,
BORTNER, WAMBACH, RYBAK, VROON, ROBINSON, COHEN, NOYE, FARGO,
BELFANTI, HAGARTY, CARLSON, J. TAYLOR, SERAFINI,
E. Z. TAYLOR, McVERRY, LEVDANSKY, CIVERA, LASHINGER, BELARDI,
MELIO, MICOZZIE, GEIST, J. L. WRIGHT, PETRARCA, BURD, OLASZ,
BARLEY, VEON, TRELLO, RITTER, BISHOP AND BILLOW, MAY 22, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MAY 22, 1989
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 Social Security numbers of parents on
14 birth certificates.
15 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16 hereby enacts as follows:
17 Section 1. Section 401 of the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304,
18 No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, is amended to
19 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
1 birth occurs within a period prescribed by regulations of the
2 Advisory Health Board. The certificate shall be prepared, signed
3 and filed by the attending physician or licensed midwife, except
4 that when there is no attending physician or licensed midwife
5 the certificate shall be prepared, signed and filed (1) by the
6 father, or (2) in the event of his death, disability or absence,
7 by the mother, or (3) in the event of her death or disability,
8 by the householder of the premises or superintendent of the
9 institution in which the birth occurs, or (4) in the event of
10 the absence or disability of all persons heretofore named, then
11 by such person acquainted with the facts as the local registrar
12 shall designate. The certificate shall contain the Social
13 Security number of each parent, if ascertainable.
14 Section 2. Section 403 of the act, added July 3, 1957
15 (P.L.443, No.247), is amended to read:
16 Section 403. Birth Registration: Children Born in a Country
17 Other Than the United States.--The department shall, upon
18 request, complete and register birth certificates for any child
19 born in a country other than the United States when either
20 parent is a citizen of the United States and a resident of the
21 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Such certificates shall show the
22 true country and date of birth, and that the certificate is not
23 evidence of the United States citizenship of the registrant. For
24 such registration the department shall require proof of parental
25 United States citizenship and of Pennsylvania residence, and the
26 Social Security number of each parent, if ascertainable.
27 Certified copies of such certificates shall be issued upon
28 application and payment of the prescribed fee.
29 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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