Pennsylvania Act 2001-69 — VITAL STATISTICS LAW OF 1953 - AMEND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FUNCTIONS INVOLVING BIRTH REGISTRATION

Act text

Session of 2001

No. 2001-69

HB 413

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 functions of the Department of Health involving birth registration.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 401 of the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, amended July 11, 1990 (P.L.433, No.106), is amended to read:

Section 401. Birth Registration: General Provisions.-- (a) A certificate of each birth occurring in this Commonwealth shall be filed with the local registrar of the district in which the birth occurs within a period prescribed by regulations of the Advisory Health Board. The certificate shall be prepared, signed and filed by the attending physician or licensed midwife, except that when there is no attending physician or licensed midwife the certificate shall be prepared, signed and filed (1) by the father, or (2) in the event of his death, disability or absence, by the mother, or (3) in the event of her death or disability, by the householder of the premises or superintendent of the institution in which the birth occurs, or (4) in the event of the absence or disability of all persons heretofore named, then by such person acquainted with the facts as the local registrar shall designate. The Social Security number or numbers of each parent shall be obtained and maintained separately by the department in a fashion that permits routine screened inquiries, unless there is good cause for not requiring the furnishing of such number or numbers in accordance with Federal regulations. This information is considered confidential and is to be made available only to Federal and State agencies responsible for establishing paternity or enforcing child support orders.

(b) Upon filing of the certificate, the department shall provide the father or the mother with a brochure relating to the existence of and eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) under Article XXIII of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as "The Insurance Company Law of 1921."

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 25th day of June, A. D. 2001.

THOMAS J. RIDGE