THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, COHEN, GINGRICH, GRELL, M. K. KELLER, MOUL, O'NEILL AND PICKETT, MAY 12, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 12, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), entitled "An

act providing for the administration of a statewide system of

vital statistics; prescribing the functions of the State

Department of Health, the State Advisory Health Board and

local registrars; imposing duties upon coroners,

prothonotaries, clerks of orphans' court, physicians,

midwives and other persons; requiring reports and

certificates for the registration of vital statistics;

regulating the disposition of dead bodies; limiting the

disclosure of records; prescribing the sufficiency of vital

statistics records as evidence; prescribing fees and

penalties; and revising and consolidating the laws relating

thereto," further providing for death certificates.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 204 of the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304,

No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, is amended to

read:

Section 204.  Department: Forms.--The department shall

prescribe the forms for all certificates required by this act.

The department may prescribe all other forms necessary for

collecting, transcribing, compiling and preserving vital

statistics. The department shall include in such forms all

standard items which contribute to a uniform comparable

nationwide system of vital statistics. The department shall

provide, upon the request of an individual, death certificates

without the cause of death shown on the death certificate for

any death registered through an electronic death registration

system.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect June 30, 2012, or

immediately, whichever is later.