PRINTER'S NO. 1821
No. 1505 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY KAISER, NAILOR, FRANKEL, PISTELLA, TIGUE, BEBKO-
JONES, E. Z. TAYLOR, M. COHEN, READSHAW, BELFANTI, HARHAI,
THOMAS, YOUNGBLOOD AND RAMOS, MAY 12, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 12, 1999
AN ACT
1 Relating to child identification; requiring hospitals and
2 birthing centers to notify parents of the availability of the
3 Child Identification Program; requiring hospitals and
4 birthing centers to provide identification services to the
5 parent upon payment of a fee; encouraging physicians to
6 participate in the Child Identification Program; and
7 prohibiting the creation or maintenance of certain records.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Short title.
11 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Child
12 Identification Program Act.
13 Section 2. Legislative findings and intent.
14 The General Assembly finds that the new technology of DNA
15 testing is of great potential benefit to the residents of this
16 Commonwealth. Having a child's DNA sample available will enable
17 parents to better assist law enforcement in finding and
18 identifying a child in the unfortunate event of a child's
19 disappearance or abduction, as well as identifying children who
1 may be victims in an accident or natural disaster. Obtaining a
2 DNA sample simply requires the placement of a drop of blood on
3 specially treated paper for long-term storage by the parent. It
4 is the intent of the General Assembly that all health care
5 providers, including hospitals, birthing centers and physicians,
6 assist parents in obtaining the sample for safekeeping by the
7 parent.
8 Section 3. Certain medical providers to assist parents in the
9 Child Identification Program.
10 Every licensed hospital and every licensed birthing center
11 shall, upon admission for a labor and delivery, notify the
12 parent as part of the admission process that the hospital or
13 birthing center is a participant in the Child Identification
14 Program and will provide a DNA sample for identification
15 purposes to the parent upon request and upon payment of a fee to
16 be determined by the hospital or birthing center. The fee may
17 not exceed the reasonable cost of obtaining the sample and
18 necessary materials. If the parent elects to participate and
19 pays the fee, the hospital or birthing center shall obtain the
20 DNA sample and provide the sample to the parent for safekeeping.
21 No copy or record of any DNA samples provided to a parent shall
22 be created or maintained by any entity participating in the
23 Child Identification Program.
24 Section 4. Participation by physicians.
25 The General Assembly encourages all physicians who provide
26 primary care to children born prior to the implementation of the
27 Child Identification Program to voluntarily participate and
28 offer the Child Identification Program to their patients. The
29 State Board of Medicine is encouraged to assist licensed
30 physicians in learning about and participating in the Child
19990H1505B1821 - 2 -
1 Identification Program.
2 Section 5. Effective date.
3 This act shall take effect immediately.
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