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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=26475
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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 3, 2018 12:05 PM
From: Representative Dan L. Miller
To: All House members
Subject: Uniform Parentage Act
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to provide the necessary framework for determining the parentage of children born to or being raised by non-traditional parents.

Due to the legalization of same-sex marriage and the recognition by the US Supreme Court of the right of same-sex couples to recognition on their children’s birth certificates, together with technological advances in assisted reproductive technology, the existing law for determining a child’s parentage is no longer sufficient to protect the wellbeing of children in the Commonwealth. These children are at risk of courts denying them the financial and emotional support of their parents. Pennsylvania courts have asked repeatedly for a legislative framework upon which to base parentage decisions. Currently in Pennsylvania, parentage cases must be decided on an individual basis with little legislative guidance.

Recognizing the need to modernize the standards for determining parentage, the Uniform Law Commission adopted a uniform act in 2017 that extends much-needed protections to children with same-sex parents and de-facto parents, and children born through surrogacy and/or assisted reproductive technology. Known as the Uniform Parentage Act, this legislation ensures that individuals who become parents in non-traditional ways are nevertheless held responsible for the support of their children. It also enhances existing Pennsylvania law that prevents a court from awarding custody of a child conceived as a result of a sexual assault to the parent that perpetrated the assault by preventing the determination of a parent-child relationship between the perpetrator and the child when requested by the victim.

It is my hope that you will join me in co-sponsoring the Uniform Parentage Act for enactment in Pennsylvania to protect the wellbeing of our children. Thank you for your consideration and support.