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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 29, 2024 03:54 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Sheryl M. Delozier |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Veteran Fee Waiver for Copies of Vital Statistics Records |
| Under Pennsylvania’s Vital Statistics Law, active or honorably discharged members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents qualify to have the fee waived for certified copies of records, such as birth or death certificates. Spouses of current and former military members have traditionally qualified for the fee waiver as well. However, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a notice to funeral directors on September 15, 2023, clarifying that the death certificate fee waiver only applies when the decedent or the surviving spouse is a veteran. In other words, death certificates for the spouse of a veteran are no longer eligible for the fee waiver when the veteran predeceases the spouse. This policy change occurred because DOH determined it was not the intent of the law. The notice has generated confusion among funeral homes that have always had these requests approved in the past. Since the law is very vague as currently drafted, DOH has significant flexibility in deciding who the fee waiver applies to. This could lead to further discrepancies surrounding eligibility down the road. Therefore, I will be introducing legislation to amend the Vital Statistics Law to specify who is eligible to receive the veteran fee waiver for certified copies of vital statistics records. Namely, my legislation will ensure the death certificate fee is waived for the spouse of a veteran, regardless of whether the veteran predeceased or survived their spouse. I believe that when a soldier serves our country their family also serves and deserves the respect to be entitled to the benefit of having the fees waived for official government documentation. Thank you in advance for consideration of my legislation. |
Introduced as HB2083