FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Richard Grucela D-Northampton www.pahouse.com/Grucela

Grucela introduces bill to modernize state record-keeping   

HARRISBURG, May 14 – State Rep. Richard Grucela, D-Northampton, has introduced legislation that would modernize the 100-plus year process by which the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records manages birth and death certificate records. Grucela said the process is rapidly becoming obsolete and is cumbersome. 

"Technology has transformed what we thought possible over the past 10 years, let alone 100 years," Grucela said. "Modernization would give the Division of Vital Records and other government agencies significantly greater access to and use of the mountain of data contained in those records than is possible under the current system and statute.

"At a time when identity theft is becoming more prevalent, government agencies and law enforcement would be able to rapidly verify deaths and, in keeping with federal law, dramatically assist in stopping the misuse of birth the records of deceased persons."

Grucela added that his measure would be an invaluable resource to historians, researchers, genealogists, and those wanting to learn more about their family medical history.

The legislation (H.B. 2543) would transfer existing and future birth and death certificate records into electronic databases, allowing the Division of Vital Records to process records and requests electronically rather than relying on what is still predominantly a manual process.

The bill specifically would:  

· institute an "Electronic Death Registration System" to ensure all future deaths would be in a database and to allow for the rapid processing of death certificates;

· institute, in keeping with federal law, a database of all birth and death records;

· define what constitutes a valid and legal death or birth certificate;

· declare that when 100 years have elapsed after the date of birth or 50 years have elapsed after the date of death, records would become public and enter a publicly accessible database of birth and death certificate records for general research purposes;

· institute a publicly accessible index database of all death records.

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