HB 350 — An Act amending Titles 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in intestate succession, further providing for rules of succession; in administration and personal representatives, providing for liability of executor; in proceedings prior to petition to adopt, further providing for rules of succession, for hearing, for alternative procedure for relinquishment and for hearing; in support matters generally, further providing general administration of support matters, repealing provisions relating to paternity and further providing for continuing jurisdiction over support orders; in general provisions relating to children and minors, repealing provisions relating to acknowledgment and claim of paternity; in jurisdiction, further providing for bases for jurisdiction over nonresident; enacting the Uniform Parentage Act; providing for parent-child relationship for certain individuals, for voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, for genetic testing, for proceeding to adjudicate parentage, for assisted reproduction, for surrogacy agreements and for information about donors; and, in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for original jurisdiction and venue.

PRINTER'S NO.   1276

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 350
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY SANCHEZ, DELOZIER, McNEILL, D. MILLER, VENKAT,
        MADDEN, GIRAL, PROBST, HILL-EVANS, GUENST, NEILSON, OTTEN,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, RIVERA, D. WILLIAMS, GREEN, FRANKEL,
        KENYATTA, SCHLOSSBERG, MERSKI, PIELLI, BOROWSKI, KINKEAD,
        BRIGGS, DONAHUE, FIEDLER, PROKOPIAK, KHAN, MULLINS, MAYES,
        T. DAVIS AND WARREN, APRIL 7, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, APRIL 7, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Titles 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries), 23
 2      (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial
 3      Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
 4      intestate succession, further providing for rules of
 5      succession; in administration and personal representatives,
 6      providing for liability of executor; in proceedings prior to
 7      petition to adopt, further providing for rules of succession,
 8      for hearing, for alternative procedure for relinquishment and
 9      for hearing; in support matters generally, further providing
10      general administration of support matters, repealing
11      provisions relating to paternity and further providing for
12      continuing jurisdiction over support orders; in general
13      provisions relating to children and minors, repealing
14      provisions relating to acknowledgment and claim of paternity;
15      in jurisdiction, further providing for bases for jurisdiction
16      over nonresident; enacting the Uniform Parentage Act;
17      providing for parent-child relationship for certain
18      individuals, for voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, for
19      genetic testing, for proceeding to adjudicate parentage, for
20      assisted reproduction, for surrogacy agreements and for
21      information about donors; and, in organization and
22      jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for
23      original jurisdiction and venue.
24      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
25   hereby enacts as follows:
26      Section 1.    Section 2104(4) of Title 20 of the Pennsylvania
 1   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
 2   § 2104.    Rules of succession.
 3      The provisions of this chapter shall be applied to both real
 4   and personal estate in accordance with the following rules:
 5             * * *
 6             (4)    After-born persons; time of determining
 7      relationships.--Persons begotten before the decedent's death,
 8      including a person conceived by assisted reproduction and
 9      established to be a child of the decedent under 23 Pa.C.S. §
10      9708 (relating to parentage status of deceased individual),
11      9813 (relating to gestational surrogacy agreement; parentage
12      status of deceased intended parent) or 9825 (relating to
13      genetic surrogacy agreement; parentage status of deceased
14      intended parent), but born thereafter, shall take as if they
15      had been born in his lifetime.
16             * * *
17      Section 2.       Title 20 is amended by adding a section to read:
18   § 3332.1.       Liability of executor.
19      If a decedent's estate is not notified of a transfer of a
20   gamete or embryo as required under 23 Pa.C.S. § 9708(b)(2)(ii)
21   (relating to parentage status of deceased individual), 9813(b)
22   (3) (relating to gestational surrogacy agreement; parentage
23   status of deceased intended parent) or 9825(b)(3) (relating to
24   genetic surrogacy agreement; parentage status of deceased
25   intended parent), and as a result a parent-child relationship
26   between the decedent and the person conceived by assisted
27   reproduction is not established, an executor is not liable to
28   the person for a distribution of the estate of the decedent in
29   reliance on the fact that the relationship was not established.
30      Section 3.       Sections 2503(b) and (d), 2504(c), 2513(b) and

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 1   4305(b)(1) of Title 23 are amended to read:
 2   § 2503.    Hearing.
 3      * * *
 4      (b)    Notice.--
 5             (1)    At least ten days' notice of the hearing shall be
 6      given to the petitioner, and a copy of the notice shall be
 7      given to the other parent, to the putative father whose
 8      parental rights could be terminated pursuant to subsection
 9      (d) and to the parents or guardian of a petitioner who has
10      not reached 18 years of age.
11             (2)    The notice to the petitioner shall state the
12      following:
13             "To:    (insert petitioner's name)
14                    A petition has been filed asking the court to put an
15             end to all rights you have to your child (insert name of
16             child). The court has set a hearing to consider ending
17             your rights to your child. That hearing will be held in
18             (insert place, giving reference to exact room and
19             building number or designation) on (insert date) at
20             (insert time). Your presence is required at the hearing.
21             You have a right to be represented at the hearing by a
22             lawyer. You should take this paper to your lawyer at
23             once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one,
24             go to or telephone the office set forth below to find out
25             where you can get legal help.
26                                       (Name)....................
27                                       (Address).................
28                                       ..........................
29                                       (Telephone number)........"
30             (3)    The copy of the notice which is given to the

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 1      putative father shall state that his rights may also be
 2      subject to termination pursuant to subsection (d) if he
 3      [fails to file either an acknowledgment of paternity or claim
 4      of paternity pursuant to section 5103 (relating to
 5      acknowledgment and claim of paternity)] has not filed an
 6      acknowledgment or indexed claim of parentage pursuant to
 7      Chapter 93 (relating to voluntary acknowledgment of
 8      parentage) and fails to either appear at the hearing for the
 9      purpose of objecting to the termination of his rights or file
10      a written objection to such termination with the court prior
11      to the hearing.
12      * * *
13      (d)    Putative father.--If a putative father will not file a
14   petition to voluntarily relinquish his parental rights pursuant
15   to section 2501 (relating to relinquishment to agency) or 2502
16   (relating to relinquishment to adult intending to adopt child),
17   has been given notice of the hearing being held pursuant to this
18   section and fails to either appear at that hearing for the
19   purpose of objecting to termination of his parental rights or
20   file a written objection to such termination with the court
21   prior to the hearing and has not filed an acknowledgment [of
22   paternity or claim of paternity pursuant to section 5103] or
23   indexed claim of parentage pursuant to Chapter 93, the court may
24   enter a decree terminating the parental rights of the putative
25   father pursuant to subsection (c).
26      * * *
27   § 2504.    Alternative procedure for relinquishment.
28      * * *
29      (c)    Putative father.--If a putative father will not execute
30   a consent to an adoption as required by section 2711, has been

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 1   given notice of the hearing being held pursuant to this section
 2   and fails to either appear at that hearing for the purpose of
 3   objecting to termination of his parental rights or file a
 4   written objection to such termination with the court prior to
 5   the hearing and has not filed an acknowledgment [of paternity or
 6   claim of paternity pursuant to section 5103 (relating to
 7   acknowledgment and claim of paternity)] or indexed claim of
 8   parentage pursuant to Chapter 93 (relating to voluntary
 9   acknowledgment of parentage), the court may enter a decree
10   terminating the parental rights of the putative father pursuant
11   to subsection (b).
12      * * *
13   § 2513.    Hearing.
14      * * *
15      (b)    Notice.--At least ten days' notice shall be given to the
16   parent or parents, putative father, or parent of a minor parent
17   whose rights are to be terminated, by personal service or by
18   registered mail to his or their last known address or by such
19   other means as the court may require. A copy of the notice shall
20   be given in the same manner to the other parent, putative father
21   or parent or guardian of a minor parent whose rights are to be
22   terminated. A putative father shall include one who has filed [a
23   claim of paternity as provided in section 5103 (relating to
24   acknowledgment and claim of paternity)] an acknowledgment or
25   indexed claim of parentage as provided in Chapter 93 (relating
26   to voluntary acknowledgment of parentage) prior to the
27   institution of proceedings. The notice shall state the
28   following:
29             "A petition has been filed asking the court to put an end
30      to all rights you have to your child (insert name of child).

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 1      The court has set a hearing to consider ending your rights to
 2      your child. That hearing will be held in (insert place,
 3      giving reference to exact room and building number or
 4      designation) on (insert date) at (insert time). You are
 5      warned that even if you fail to appear at the scheduled
 6      hearing, the hearing will go on without you and your rights
 7      to your child may be ended by the court without your being
 8      present. You have a right to be represented at the hearing by
 9      a lawyer. You should take this paper to your lawyer at once.
10      If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or
11      telephone the office set forth below to find out where you
12      can get legal help.
13                                     (Name)...................
14                                     (Address)................
15                                     .........................
16                                     (Telephone number)......."
17      * * *
18   § 4305.    General administration of support matters.
19      * * *
20      (b)    Additional powers.--Subject to the supervision and
21   direction of the court but without the need for prior judicial
22   order, the domestic relations section shall have the power to
23   expedite the establishment and enforcement of support to:
24             (1)   Order genetic testing for the purpose of [paternity
25      establishment pursuant to section 4343 (relating to
26      paternity).] establishing parentage under section 9607
27      (relating to adjudicating parentage of child with alleged
28      genetic parent).
29             * * *
30      Section 4.     Section 4343 of Title 23 is repealed:

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 1   [§ 4343.    Paternity.
 2      (a)     Determination.--Where the paternity of a child born out
 3   of wedlock is disputed, the determination of paternity shall be
 4   made by the court in a civil action without a jury. A putative
 5   father may not be prohibited from initiating a civil action to
 6   establish paternity. The burden of proof shall be by a
 7   preponderance of the evidence. Bills for pregnancy, childbirth,
 8   postnatal care related to the pregnancy and genetic testing are
 9   admissible as evidence without requiring third-party foundation
10   testimony and shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts
11   incurred for such services or for testing on behalf of the
12   child. If there is clear and convincing evidence of paternity on
13   the basis of genetic tests or other evidence, the court shall
14   upon motion of a party issue a temporary order of support
15   pending the judicial resolution of a dispute regarding
16   paternity. The Supreme Court shall provide by general rule for
17   entry of a default order establishing paternity upon a showing
18   of service of process on the defendant and a subsequent failure
19   to appear for scheduled genetic testing.
20      (b)     Limitation of actions.--
21            (1)   An action or proceeding under this chapter to
22      establish the paternity of a child born out of wedlock must
23      be commenced within 18 years of the date of birth of the
24      child.
25            (2)   As of August 16, 1984, the requirement of paragraph
26      (b)(1) shall also apply to any child for whom paternity has
27      not yet been established and any child for whom a paternity
28      action was brought but dismissed because of a prior statute
29      of limitations of less than 18 years.
30      (c)     Genetic tests.--

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 1        (1)   Upon the request of any party to an action to
 2    establish paternity, supported by a sworn statement from the
 3    party, the court or domestic relations section shall require
 4    the child and the parties to submit to genetic tests. The
 5    domestic relations section shall obtain an additional genetic
 6    test upon the request and advance payment by any party who
 7    contests the initial test.
 8        (2)   Genetic test results indicating a 99% or greater
 9    probability that the alleged father is the father of the
10    child shall create a presumption of paternity which may be
11    rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence that the
12    results of the genetic tests are not reliable in that
13    particular case.
14        (3)   To ensure the integrity of the specimen and that the
15    proper chain of custody has been maintained, the genetic
16    tests of the biological mother, the child or children in
17    question and the alleged father should be conducted by an
18    established genetic-testing laboratory in the course of its
19    regularly conducted business activity, and certified records
20    should be issued. The certified records shall be admissible
21    into evidence without further foundation, authentication or
22    proof of accuracy if no objection is made within ten days
23    prior to trial. The laboratory must be certified by either
24    the American Association of Blood Banks or the American
25    Association for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.
26        (4)   If the court or domestic relations section orders
27    genetic testing, the domestic relations section shall pay the
28    cost of the test, subject to recoupment from the alleged
29    father if paternity is established.
30        (5)   A determination of paternity made by another state,

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 1      whether through judicial proceedings, administrative
 2      proceedings or by acknowledgment of paternity, shall be given
 3      full faith and credit in the courts of this Commonwealth.
 4             (6)   A determination of nonpaternity made by another
 5      state with respect to a public assistance recipient shall not
 6      be binding upon the Department of Public Welfare unless the
 7      defendant shows that the department had actual notice of the
 8      proceedings, including the date and time of any trial, and a
 9      fair opportunity to participate in all material proceedings
10      through counsel of its own choice.]
11      Section 5.     Section 4352(a) of Title 23 is amended to read:
12   § 4352.    Continuing jurisdiction over support orders.
13      (a)    General rule.--The court making an order of support
14   shall at all times maintain jurisdiction of the matter for the
15   purpose of enforcement of the order and for the purpose of
16   increasing, decreasing, modifying or rescinding the order unless
17   otherwise provided by Part VIII (relating to uniform interstate
18   family support) [or], VIII-A (relating to intrastate family
19   support) or IX-A (relating to Uniform Parentage Act) without
20   limiting the right of the obligee, or the department if it has
21   an assignment or other interest, to institute additional
22   proceedings for support in any county in which the obligor
23   resides or in which property of the obligor is situated. The
24   Supreme Court shall by general rule establish procedures by
25   which each interested party shall be notified of all proceedings
26   in which support obligations might be established or modified
27   and shall receive a copy of any order issued in a case within 14
28   days after issuance of such order. A petition for modification
29   of a support order may be filed at any time and shall be granted
30   if the requesting party demonstrates a substantial change in

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 9 -
 1   circumstances.
 2      * * *
 3      Section 6.    Section 5103 of Title 23 is repealed:
 4   [§ 5103.    Acknowledgment and claim of paternity.
 5      (a)     Acknowledgment of paternity.--The father of a child born
 6   to an unmarried woman may file with the Department of Public
 7   Welfare, on forms prescribed by the department, an
 8   acknowledgment of paternity of the child which shall include the
 9   consent of the mother of the child, supported by her witnessed
10   statement subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn
11   falsification to authorities). In such case, the father shall
12   have all the rights and duties as to the child which he would
13   have had if he had been married to the mother at the time of the
14   birth of the child, and the child shall have all the rights and
15   duties as to the father which the child would have had if the
16   father had been married to the mother at the time of birth. The
17   hospital or other person accepting an acknowledgment of
18   paternity shall provide written and oral notice, which may be
19   through the use of video or audio equipment, to the birth mother
20   and birth father of the alternatives to, the legal consequences
21   of and the rights and responsibilities that arise from, signing
22   the acknowledgment.
23      (b)     Claim of paternity.--If the mother of the child fails or
24   refuses to join in the acknowledgment of paternity provided for
25   in subsection (a), the Department of Public Welfare shall index
26   it as a claim of paternity. The filing and indexing of a claim
27   of paternity shall not confer upon the putative father any
28   rights as to the child except that the putative father shall be
29   entitled to notice of any proceeding brought to terminate any
30   parental rights as to the child.

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 1      (c)   Duty of hospital or birthing center.--Upon the birth of
 2   a child to an unmarried woman, an agent of the hospital or
 3   birthing center where the birth occurred shall:
 4            (1)   Provide the newborn's birth parents with an
 5      opportunity to complete an acknowledgment of paternity. The
 6      completed, signed and witnessed acknowledgment shall be sent
 7      to the Department of Public Welfare. A copy shall be given to
 8      each of the birth parents. This acknowledgment shall contain:
 9                  (i)    A signed, witnessed statement subject to 18
10            Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to
11            authorities) by the birth mother consenting to the
12            acknowledgment of paternity.
13                  (ii)    A signed, witnessed statement subject to 18
14            Pa.C.S. § 4904 by the birth father acknowledging his
15            paternity.
16                  (iii)    A written explanation of the parental duties
17            and parental rights which arise from signing such a
18            statement.
19                  (iv)    The Social Security numbers and addresses of
20            both birth parents.
21            (2)   Provide written information, furnished by the
22      department to the birth mother and birth father, which
23      explains the benefits of having the child's paternity
24      established, the availability of paternity establishment
25      services and the availability of child support enforcement
26      agencies.
27      (d)   Conclusive evidence.--Notwithstanding any other
28   provision of law, an acknowledgment of paternity shall
29   constitute conclusive evidence of paternity without further
30   judicial ratification in any action to establish support. The

20250HB0350PN1276                       - 11 -
 1   court shall give full faith and credit to an acknowledgment of
 2   paternity signed in another state according to its procedures.
 3      (e)   Transfer.--The Department of Health shall transfer to
 4   the Department of Public Welfare all acknowledgments or claims
 5   of paternity filed with the Department of Health under prior
 6   statutes.
 7      (f)   Certifications.--The Department of Public Welfare shall
 8   provide necessary certifications under Part III (relating to
 9   adoption) as to whether any acknowledgment or claim of paternity
10   has been filed in regard to any child who is a prospective
11   adoptive child.
12      (g)   Rescission.--
13            (1)   Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
14      signed, voluntary, witnessed acknowledgment of paternity
15      subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 shall be considered a legal
16      finding of paternity, subject to the right of any signatory
17      to rescind the acknowledgment within the earlier of the
18      following:
19                  (i)    sixty days; or
20                  (ii)    the date of an administrative or judicial
21            proceeding relating to the child, including, but not
22            limited to, a domestic relations section conference or a
23            proceeding to establish a support order in which the
24            signatory is a party.
25            (2)   After the expiration of the 60 days, an
26      acknowledgment of paternity may be challenged in court only
27      on the basis of fraud, duress or material mistake of fact,
28      which must be established by the challenger through clear and
29      convincing evidence. An order for support shall not be
30      suspended during the period of challenge except for good

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 1      cause shown.
 2      (h)    Penalties for noncompliance.--The department may impose
 3   a civil penalty not to exceed $500 per day upon a hospital or
 4   birthing center which is not in compliance with the provisions
 5   of this section. A penalty under this subsection is subject to 2
 6   Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of
 7   Commonwealth agencies) and Ch. 7 Subch. A (relating to judicial
 8   review of Commonwealth agency action).
 9      (i)    Status of father.--The name of the father shall be
10   included on the record of birth of the child of unmarried
11   parents only if one of the following applies:
12             (1)   The father and mother have signed a voluntary
13      acknowledgment of paternity.
14             (2)   A court or administrative agency of competent
15      jurisdiction has issued an adjudication of paternity.]
16      Section 7.     Section 7201(a) of Title 23 is amended to read:
17   § 7201.    Bases for jurisdiction over nonresident.
18      (a)    Jurisdiction.--In a proceeding to establish or enforce a
19   support order or to determine parentage of a child, a tribunal
20   of this State may exercise personal jurisdiction over a
21   nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or
22   conservator if any of the following apply:
23             (1)   The individual is personally served with a writ of
24      summons, complaint or other appropriate pleading within this
25      State.
26             (2)   The individual submits to the jurisdiction of this
27      State by consent in a record, by entering a general
28      appearance or by filing a responsive document having the
29      effect of waiving any contest to personal jurisdiction.
30             (3)   The individual resided with the child in this State.

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 1             (4)   The individual resided in this State and provided
 2      prenatal expenses or support for the child.
 3             (5)   The child resides in this State as a result of the
 4      acts or directives of the individual.
 5             (6)   The individual engaged in sexual intercourse in this
 6      State and the child may have been conceived by that act of
 7      intercourse.
 8             (7)   The individual acknowledged parentage of the child
 9      [on a form filed with the department under section 5103
10      (relating to acknowledgment and claim of paternity)] under
11      Chapter 93 (relating to voluntary acknowledgment of
12      parentage).
13             (8)   There is any other basis consistent with the
14      constitutions of this State and the United States for the
15      exercise of personal jurisdiction.
16      * * *
17      Section 8.     Title 23 is amended by adding a part to read:
18                                   PART IX-A
19                            UNIFORM PARENTAGE ACT
20   Chapter
21      91.    General Provisions
22      92.    Parent-child Relationship
23      93.    Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage
24      94.    (Reserved)
25      95.    Genetic Testing
26      96.    Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage
27      97.    Assisted Reproduction
28      98.    Surrogacy Agreement
29      99.    Information about Donor
30      99A.    Miscellaneous Provisions

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 1                                  CHAPTER 91
 2                              GENERAL PROVISIONS
 3   Sec.
 4   9101.   Short title of part.
 5   9102.   Definitions.
 6   9103.   Scope of part.
 7   9104.   Applicable law.
 8   9105.   Data privacy.
 9   9106.   Construction.
10   § 9101.    Short title of part.
11      This part shall be known as the Uniform Parentage Act.
12   § 9102.    Definitions.
13      Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
14   provisions of this part which are applicable to specific
15   provisions of this part, the following words and phrases when
16   used in this part shall have the meanings given to them in this
17   section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
18      "Acknowledged parent."      An individual who has established a
19   parent-child relationship under Chapter 93 (relating to
20   voluntary acknowledgment of parentage).
21      "Active petition."     A petition which has been served and not
22   withdrawn.
23      "Adjudicated parent."     An individual who has been adjudicated
24   to be a parent of a child by a court with jurisdiction.
25      "Alleged genetic parent."       An individual who is alleged to
26   be, or alleges that the individual is, a genetic parent or
27   possible genetic parent of a child whose parentage has not been
28   adjudicated. The term does not include:
29             (1)   a presumed parent;
30             (2)   an individual whose parental rights have been

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 1      terminated or declared not to exist; or
 2          (3)     a donor.
 3      "Assisted reproduction."     A method of causing pregnancy other
 4   than sexual intercourse. The term includes:
 5          (1)     intrauterine, intracervical or vaginal insemination;
 6          (2)     donation of gametes;
 7          (3)     donation of embryos;
 8          (4)     in vitro fertilization and transfer of embryos; and
 9          (5)     intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
10      "Birth."    Includes stillbirth.
11      "Child."    An individual of any age whose parentage may be
12   determined under this part.
13      "Child-support agency."     A government entity, public official
14   or private agency authorized to provide parentage-establishment
15   services under Part D of Title IV of the Social Security Act (49
16   Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.).
17      "Department."    The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
18      "Determination of parentage."      Establishment of a parent-
19   child relationship by a judicial or administrative proceeding or
20   otherwise under this part.
21      "Donor."    An individual who provides gametes intended for use
22   in assisted reproduction, whether or not for consideration. The
23   term does not include:
24          (1)     an individual who gives birth to a child conceived
25      by assisted reproduction, except as otherwise provided in
26      Chapter 98 (relating to surrogacy agreement); or
27          (2)     a parent under Chapter 97 (relating to assisted
28      reproduction) or an intended parent under Chapter 98.
29      "Gamete."    A sperm or an egg.
30      "Genetic testing."     An analysis of genetic markers to

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 1   identify or exclude a genetic relationship.
 2      "Intended parent."      An individual, married or unmarried, who
 3   manifests an intent to be legally bound as a parent of a child
 4   conceived by assisted reproduction.
 5      "Minor."      An unemancipated individual under 18 years of age.
 6      "Parent."      An individual who has established a parent-child
 7   relationship under section 9201 (relating to establishment of
 8   parent-child relationship).
 9      "Parentage" or "parent-child relationship."      The legal
10   relationship between a child and a parent of the child.
11      "Petition."      A pleading which commences an action under this
12   part.
13      "Presumed parent."      An individual who, under section 9204
14   (relating to presumption of parentage), is presumed to be a
15   parent of a child, unless the presumption is overcome in a
16   judicial proceeding, a valid denial of parentage is made under
17   Chapter 93 or a court adjudicates the individual to be a parent.
18      "Record."      Information that is inscribed on a tangible medium
19   or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is
20   retrievable in perceivable form.
21      "Sign."      With present intent to authenticate or adopt a
22   record:
23             (1)   to execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or
24             (2)   to attach to or logically associate with the record
25      an electronic symbol, sound or process.
26      "Signatory."      An individual who signs a record.
27      "State."      A state of the United States, the District of
28   Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any
29   territory or insular possession under the jurisdiction of the
30   United States. The term includes a federally recognized Indian

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 17 -
 1   tribe.
 2      "Transfer."     A procedure for assisted reproduction by which a
 3   gamete or embryo is placed in the body of an individual who will
 4   give birth to a child.
 5      "Witnessed."     The act in which at least one individual who is
 6   authorized to sign has signed a record to verify that the
 7   individual personally observed a signatory sign the record.
 8   § 9103.    Scope of part.
 9      (a)    General rule.--This part applies to an adjudication or
10   determination of parentage.
11      (b)    Construction.--This part does not create, affect,
12   enlarge or diminish parental rights or duties under the law of
13   this Commonwealth other than this part.
14      (c)    Inconsistency.--Except as otherwise provided in this
15   part, if there is an inconsistency between a provision of this
16   part and another statutory provision, the provision of this part
17   prevails.
18   § 9104.    Applicable law.
19      The court shall apply the law of this Commonwealth to
20   adjudicate parentage. The applicable law does not depend on:
21             (1)   the place of birth of the child; or
22             (2)   the past or present residence of the child.
23   § 9105.    Data privacy.
24      A proceeding under this part is subject to the law of this
25   Commonwealth other than this part which governs the health,
26   safety, privacy and liberty of a child or other individual who
27   could be affected by disclosure of information that could
28   identify the child or other individual, including address,
29   telephone number, digital contact information, place of
30   employment, Social Security number and the child's day-care

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 18 -
 1   facility or school.
 2   § 9106.    Construction.
 3      (a)    Equal application.--To the extent practicable, a
 4   provision of this part applicable to a father-child relationship
 5   or a mother-child relationship applies to any parent-child
 6   relationship.
 7      (b)    Application to State plan.--This part shall be applied
 8   in accordance with the Department of Human Services' federally
 9   approved State plan for child support.
10                                  CHAPTER 92
11                          PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
12   Sec.
13   9201.    Establishment of parent-child relationship.
14   9202.    No discrimination.
15   9203.    Consequences of establishing parentage.
16   9204.    Presumption of parentage.
17   § 9201.    Establishment of parent-child relationship.
18      A parent-child relationship is established between an
19   individual and a child if:
20             (1)   the individual gives birth to the child, except as
21      otherwise provided in Chapter 98 (relating to surrogacy
22      agreement);
23             (2)   there is a presumption under section 9204 (relating
24      to presumption of parentage) of the individual's parentage of
25      the child, unless the presumption is overcome in a judicial
26      proceeding or a valid denial of parentage is made under
27      Chapter 93 (relating to voluntary acknowledgment of
28      parentage);
29             (3)   the individual is adjudicated a parent of the child
30      under Chapter 96 (relating to proceeding to adjudicate

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 19 -
 1      parentage);
 2             (4)   the individual adopts the child;
 3             (5)   the individual acknowledges parentage of the child
 4      under Chapter 93, unless the acknowledgment is rescinded
 5      under section 9308 (relating to procedure for rescission) or
 6      successfully challenged under Chapter 93 or 96;
 7             (6)   the individual's parentage of the child is
 8      established under Chapter 97 (relating to assisted
 9      reproduction); or
10             (7)   the individual's parentage of the child is
11      established under Chapter 98.
12   § 9202.    No discrimination.
13      A parent-child relationship extends equally to every child
14   and parent, regardless of the marital status or gender of the
15   parent or the circumstances of the child's birth.
16   § 9203.    Consequences of establishing parentage.
17      Unless parental rights are terminated, a parent-child
18   relationship established under this part applies for all
19   purposes.
20   § 9204.    Presumption of parentage.
21      (a)    General rule.--An individual is presumed to be a parent
22   of a child if:
23             (1)   when the child was born:
24                   (i)    that individual and the individual who gave
25             birth to the child were married to each other, regardless
26             of whether the marriage was valid or could later be
27             declared invalid; and
28                   (ii)    there is no active petition for divorce,
29             dissolution or annulment; or
30             (2)   during the time the child was a minor, it is

20250HB0350PN1276                        - 20 -
 1      determined by clear and convincing evidence that the
 2      individual openly held out the child as the individual's
 3      child and:
 4                (i)    resided in the same household as the child; or
 5                (ii)   provided support for the child.
 6      (b)    Effect of presumption of parentage.--A presumption of
 7   parentage under this section may be overcome and competing
 8   claims to parentage may be resolved only by an adjudication
 9   under Chapter 96 (relating to proceeding to adjudicate
10   parentage) or a valid denial of parentage under Chapter 93
11   (relating to voluntary acknowledgment of parentage).
12                                   CHAPTER 93
13                   VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PARENTAGE
14   Sec.
15   9301.    Acknowledgment of parentage.
16   9302.    Execution of acknowledgment of parentage.
17   9303.    Denial of parentage.
18   9304.    Rules for acknowledgment or denial of parentage.
19   9305.    Effect of acknowledgment or denial of parentage.
20   9306.    No filing fee.
21   9307.    Ratification barred.
22   9308.    Procedure for rescission.
23   9309.    Challenge after expiration of period for rescission.
24   9310.    Procedure for challenge by signatory.
25   9311.    Full faith and credit.
26   9312.    Forms for acknowledgment and denial of parentage.
27   9313.    Release of information.
28   9314.    Regulations.
29   § 9301.    Acknowledgment of parentage.
30      (a)    Who may sign acknowledgment.--Except as provided in

20250HB0350PN1276                      - 21 -
 1   subsection (c), the individual who gave birth to a child and any
 2   of the following may sign an acknowledgment of parentage to
 3   establish the parentage of the child:
 4            (1)   A presumed parent of the child.
 5            (2)   An alleged genetic parent of the child.
 6            (3)   An intended parent of the child under Chapter 97
 7      (relating to assisted reproduction).
 8      (b)   Opportunity to complete and sign acknowledgment.--If a
 9   child is born in a hospital, birthing center or other facility,
10   an agent of the facility shall provide the individual who gave
11   birth to the child and any of the other individuals listed in
12   subsection (a) seeking to establish a parent-child relationship
13   with the child with a form acknowledgment of parentage and an
14   opportunity to complete and sign the form and have their
15   signatures attested or witnessed as required under section
16   9302(a)(1) (relating to execution of acknowledgment of
17   parentage).
18      (c)   Acknowledgment not signed by individual who gave
19   birth.--If the individual who gave birth to the child refuses to
20   sign an acknowledgment of parentage under this section, the
21   Department of Human Services shall accept for filing the
22   acknowledgment of parentage and index the acknowledgment as a
23   claim of parentage by the other individual seeking to establish
24   the parentage of the child. The filing and indexing shall not
25   confer on the other individual any rights regarding the child
26   except that the other individual is entitled to notice of any
27   proceeding brought to terminate any parental rights to the child
28   provided by other law.
29      (d)   Certifications.--The Department of Human Services shall
30   provide necessary certifications under Part III (relating to

20250HB0350PN1276                    - 22 -
 1   adoption) as to whether any acknowledgment or claim of parentage
 2   has been filed or indexed in regard to a child who is a
 3   prospective adoptive child.
 4   § 9302.    Execution of acknowledgment of parentage.
 5      (a)    General rule.--An acknowledgment of parentage under
 6   section 9301 (relating to acknowledgment of parentage) must:
 7             (1)   be in a record signed by the individual who gave
 8      birth to the child and by the individual seeking to establish
 9      parentage, and the signatures must be attested by a notarial
10      officer or witnessed;
11             (2)   state that the child whose parentage is being
12      acknowledged:
13                   (i)    does not have a presumed parent other than the
14             individual seeking to establish parentage of the child or
15             has a presumed parent whose full name is stated; and
16                   (ii)   does not have another acknowledged parent,
17             adjudicated parent or individual who is a parent of the
18             child under Chapter 97 (relating to assisted
19             reproduction) or 98 (relating to surrogacy agreement)
20             other than the individual who gave birth to the child;
21             and
22             (3)   state that the signatories understand that the
23      acknowledgment is the equivalent of an adjudication of
24      parentage of the child and that a challenge to the
25      acknowledgment is permitted only under limited circumstances
26      and is barred two years after the effective date of the
27      acknowledgment.
28      (b)    Void acknowledgment of parentage.--An acknowledgment of
29   parentage is void if, at the time of signing:
30             (1)   an individual other than the individual seeking to

20250HB0350PN1276                        - 23 -
 1         establish parentage is a presumed parent, unless a denial of
 2         parentage by the presumed parent in a signed record is filed
 3         with the Department of Human Services; or
 4               (2)   an individual, other than the individual who gave
 5         birth to the child or the individual seeking to establish
 6         parentage, is an acknowledged or adjudicated parent or a
 7         parent under Chapter 97 or 98.
 8   § 9303.      Denial of parentage.
 9         A presumed parent or alleged genetic parent may sign a denial
10   of parentage in a record. The denial of parentage is valid only
11   if:
12               (1)   an acknowledgment of parentage by another individual
13         is filed under section 9305 (relating to effect of
14         acknowledgment or denial of parentage);
15               (2)   the signatures are attested by a notarial officer or
16         witnessed; and
17               (3)   the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent has
18         not previously:
19                     (i)    completed a valid acknowledgment of parentage,
20               unless the previous acknowledgment was rescinded under
21               section 9308 (relating to procedure for rescission) or
22               challenged successfully under section 9309 (relating to
23               challenge after expiration of period for rescission); or
24                     (ii)   been adjudicated to be a parent of the child.
25   § 9304.      Rules for acknowledgment or denial of parentage.
26         (a)   General rule.--An acknowledgment of parentage and a
27   denial of parentage may be contained in a single record or may
28   be in counterparts and may be filed with the Department of Human
29   Services separately or simultaneously. If filing of the
30   acknowledgment and denial both are required under this part,

20250HB0350PN1276                          - 24 -
 1   neither is effective until both are filed.
 2      (b)    Time period for signing.--An acknowledgment of parentage
 3   or denial of parentage may be signed before or after the birth
 4   of the child.
 5      (c)    Effective date.--Subject to subsection (a), an
 6   acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage takes effect
 7   on the birth of the child or filing of the record with the
 8   Department of Human Services, whichever occurs later.
 9      (d)    Validity.--An acknowledgment of parentage or denial of
10   parentage signed by a minor is valid if the acknowledgment
11   complies with this part.
12   § 9305.   Effect of acknowledgment or denial of parentage.
13      (a)    Acknowledgment of parentage.--Except as otherwise
14   provided in sections 9308 (relating to procedure for rescission)
15   and 9309 (relating to challenge after expiration of period for
16   rescission), an acknowledgment of parentage that complies with
17   this chapter and is filed with the Department of Human Services
18   is equivalent to an adjudication of parentage of the child and
19   confers on the acknowledged parent all rights and duties of a
20   parent.
21      (b)    Denial of parentage.--Except as otherwise provided in
22   sections 9308 and 9309, a denial of parentage which complies
23   with this chapter and is filed with the Department of Human
24   Services with an acknowledgment of parentage that complies with
25   this chapter is equivalent to an adjudication that the presumed
26   parent or alleged genetic parent is not a parent and is
27   discharged from all rights and duties of a parent.
28   § 9306.   No filing fee.
29      The Department of Human Services may not charge a fee for
30   filing an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage.

20250HB0350PN1276                   - 25 -
 1   § 9307.    Ratification barred.
 2      A court conducting a judicial proceeding or an administrative
 3   agency conducting an administrative proceeding is not required
 4   or permitted to ratify an unchallenged acknowledgment of
 5   parentage.
 6   § 9308.    Procedure for rescission.
 7      (a)    General rule.--A signatory may rescind an acknowledgment
 8   of parentage or denial of parentage by filing with the
 9   Department of Human Services a rescission in a signed record
10   which is attested by a notarial officer or witnessed. The filing
11   must occur before the earlier of:
12             (1)   sixty days after the effective date under section
13      9304 (relating to rules for acknowledgment or denial of
14      parentage) of the acknowledgment or denial; or
15             (2)   the date of the first hearing before a court in a
16      proceeding, to which the signatory is a party, to adjudicate
17      an issue relating to the child, including a proceeding that
18      establishes support.
19      (b)    Associated denial of parentage.--If an acknowledgment of
20   parentage is rescinded under subsection (a), an associated
21   denial of parentage is invalid, and the Department of Human
22   Services shall notify the individual who gave birth to the child
23   and the individual who signed a denial of parentage of the child
24   that the acknowledgment has been rescinded. Failure to give the
25   notice required by this subsection does not affect the validity
26   of the rescission.
27   § 9309.    Challenge after expiration of period for rescission.
28      (a)    Signatories.--After the period for rescission under
29   section 9308 (relating to procedure for rescission) expires, but
30   not later than two years after the effective date under section

20250HB0350PN1276                      - 26 -
 1   9304 (relating to rules for acknowledgment or denial of
 2   parentage) of an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of
 3   parentage, a signatory of the acknowledgment or denial may
 4   commence a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment or denial,
 5   including a challenge brought under section 9614 (relating to
 6   precluding establishment of parentage by perpetrator of sexual
 7   assault), only on the basis of fraud, duress or material mistake
 8   of fact.
 9      (b)     Nonsignatories.--A challenge to an acknowledgment of
10   parentage or denial of parentage by an individual who was not a
11   signatory to the acknowledgment or denial is governed by section
12   9610 (relating to adjudicating parentage of child with
13   acknowledged parent).
14   § 9310.    Procedure for challenge by signatory.
15      (a)     Parties.--Every signatory to an acknowledgment of
16   parentage and any related denial of parentage must be made a
17   party to a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment or denial.
18      (b)     Personal jurisdiction.--By signing an acknowledgment of
19   parentage or denial of parentage, a signatory submits to
20   personal jurisdiction in this Commonwealth in a proceeding to
21   challenge the acknowledgment or denial, effective on the filing
22   of the acknowledgment or denial with the Department of Human
23   Services.
24      (c)     Suspension of legal responsibilities.--The court may not
25   suspend the legal responsibilities arising from an
26   acknowledgment of parentage, including the duty to pay child
27   support, during the pendency of a proceeding to challenge the
28   acknowledgment or a related denial of parentage, unless the
29   party challenging the acknowledgment or denial shows good cause.
30      (d)     Burden of proof.--A party challenging an acknowledgment

20250HB0350PN1276                    - 27 -
 1   of parentage or denial of parentage has the burden of proof.
 2      (e)    Order to amend birth record.--If the court determines
 3   that a party has satisfied the burden of proof under subsection
 4   (d), the court shall order the department to amend the birth
 5   record of the child to reflect the legal parentage of the child.
 6      (f)    Conduct of proceedings.--A proceeding to challenge an
 7   acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage must be
 8   conducted under Chapter 96 (relating to proceeding to adjudicate
 9   parentage).
10   § 9311.    Full faith and credit.
11      The court shall give full faith and credit to an
12   acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage effective in
13   another state if the acknowledgment or denial is in a signed
14   record and otherwise complies with the law of the other state.
15   § 9312.    Forms for acknowledgment and denial of parentage.
16      (a)    Duty to prescribe forms.--The Department of Human
17   Services shall prescribe forms for an acknowledgment of
18   parentage, denial of parentage, rescission of acknowledgment and
19   rescission of denial.
20      (b)    Effect of later modification.--A valid acknowledgment of
21   parentage or denial of parentage is not affected by a later
22   modification of the form under subsection (a).
23   § 9313.    Release of information.
24      The Department of Human Services may release information
25   relating to an acknowledgment of parentage, a denial of
26   parentage or a related rescission to any of the following:
27             (1)   A signatory of the acknowledgment of parentage,
28      denial of parentage or related rescission.
29             (2)   A court.
30             (3)   A child 18 years of age or older who is the subject

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 28 -
 1      of the acknowledgment of parentage, denial of parentage or
 2      related rescission.
 3             (4)   A Federal agency or a child-support agency of this
 4      or another state.
 5   § 9314.    Regulations.
 6      The Department of Human Services may promulgate regulations
 7   as necessary to implement this chapter.
 8                                  CHAPTER 94
 9                                  (Reserved)
10                                  CHAPTER 95
11                               GENETIC TESTING
12   Sec.
13   9501.   Definitions.
14   9502.   Scope of chapter; limitation on use of genetic testing.
15   9503.   Authority to order or deny genetic testing.
16   9504.   Requirements for genetic testing.
17   9505.   Report of genetic testing.
18   9506.   Genetic testing results; challenge to results.
19   9507.   Cost of genetic testing.
20   9508.   Additional genetic testing.
21   9509.   Genetic testing when specimen not available.
22   9510.   Deceased individual.
23   9511.   Identical siblings.
24   9512.   Confidentiality of genetic testing.
25   § 9501.    Definitions.
26      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
27   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
28   context clearly indicates otherwise:
29      "Combined relationship index."         The product of all tested
30   relationship indices.

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 29 -
 1      "Ethnic or racial group."      For the purpose of genetic
 2   testing, a recognized group or groups that an individual
 3   identifies as the individual's ancestry or part of the ancestry
 4   or that is identified by other information.
 5      "Hypothesized genetic relationship."      An asserted genetic
 6   relationship between an individual and a child.
 7      "Probability of parentage."      For the ethnic or racial group
 8   to which an individual alleged to be a parent belongs, the
 9   probability that a hypothesized genetic relationship is
10   supported, compared to the probability that a genetic
11   relationship is supported between the child and a random
12   individual of the ethnic or racial group used in the
13   hypothesized genetic relationship, expressed as a percentage
14   incorporating the combined relationship index and a prior
15   probability.
16      "Relationship index."     A likelihood ratio that compares the
17   probability of a genetic marker given a hypothesized genetic
18   relationship and the probability of the genetic marker given a
19   genetic relationship between the child and a random individual
20   of the ethnic or racial group used in the hypothesized genetic
21   relationship.
22   § 9502.    Scope of chapter; limitation on use of genetic testing.
23      (a)    General rule.--This chapter governs genetic testing of
24   an individual in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage, whether
25   the individual:
26             (1)   voluntarily submits to testing; or
27             (2)   is tested under an order of the court or a child-
28      support agency.
29      (b)    Prohibited uses.--Genetic testing may not be used:
30             (1)   to challenge the parentage status of an individual

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 30 -
 1      who is a parent under Chapter 97 (relating to assisted
 2      reproduction) or 98 (relating to surrogacy agreement); or
 3             (2)   to establish the parentage status of an individual
 4      who is a donor.
 5   § 9503.    Authority to order or deny genetic testing.
 6      (a)    General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
 7   chapter or Chapter 96 (relating to proceeding to adjudicate
 8   parentage), in a proceeding under this part to determine
 9   parentage, the court shall order the child and any other
10   individual to submit to genetic testing if a request for testing
11   is supported by the sworn statement of a party:
12             (1)   alleging a reasonable possibility that the
13      individual is the child's genetic parent; or
14             (2)   denying genetic parentage of the child and stating
15      facts establishing a reasonable possibility that the
16      individual is not a genetic parent.
17      (b)    When permitted.--The court or a child-support agency may
18   order genetic testing only if there is no presumed, acknowledged
19   or adjudicated parent of a child other than the individual who
20   gave birth to the child.
21      (c)    In utero genetic testing prohibited.--The court or
22   child-support agency may not order in utero genetic testing.
23      (d)    Multiple individuals.--If two or more individuals are
24   subject to court-ordered genetic testing, the court may order
25   that testing be completed concurrently or sequentially.
26      (e)    Subjects.--Genetic testing of an individual who gave
27   birth to a child is not a condition precedent to testing of the
28   child and another individual whose genetic parentage of the
29   child is being determined. If the individual who gave birth is
30   unavailable or declines to submit to genetic testing, the court

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 31 -
 1   may order genetic testing of the child and each other individual
 2   whose genetic parentage of the child is being adjudicated.
 3      (f)    Discretion to deny motion.--In a proceeding to
 4   adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed parent or
 5   an individual who claims to be a parent under section 9609
 6   (relating to adjudicating claim of de facto parentage of child),
 7   or to challenge an acknowledgment of parentage, the court may
 8   deny a motion for genetic testing of the child and any other
 9   individual after considering the factors in section 9613(a) and
10   (b) (relating to adjudicating competing claims of parentage).
11      (g)    Conditions requiring denial of motion.--If an individual
12   requesting genetic testing is barred under Chapter 96 from
13   establishing the individual's parentage status, the court shall
14   deny the request for genetic testing.
15      (h)    Enforcement.--An order under this section for genetic
16   testing is enforceable by contempt.
17   § 9504.    Requirements for genetic testing.
18      (a)    Types authorized.--Genetic testing must be of a type
19   reasonably relied on by experts in the field of genetic testing
20   and performed in a testing laboratory accredited by:
21             (1)   the AABB, formerly known as the American Association
22      of Blood Banks, or a successor to its functions; or
23             (2)   an accrediting body designated by the Secretary of
24      the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
25      (b)    Specimens.--A specimen used in genetic testing may
26   consist of a sample or a combination of samples of blood, buccal
27   cells, bone, hair or other body tissue or fluid. The specimen
28   used in the testing need not be of the same kind for each
29   individual undergoing genetic testing.
30      (c)    Calculation of relationship index.--Based on the ethnic

20250HB0350PN1276                     - 32 -
 1   or racial group of an individual undergoing genetic testing, a
 2   testing laboratory shall determine the databases from which to
 3   select frequencies for use in calculating a relationship index.
 4   If an individual or a child-support agency objects to the
 5   laboratory's choice, the following rules apply:
 6            (1)   Not later than 30 days after receipt of the report
 7      of the test, the objecting individual or child-support agency
 8      may request the court to require the laboratory to
 9      recalculate the relationship index using an ethnic or racial
10      group different from that used by the laboratory.
11            (2)   The individual or the child-support agency objecting
12      to the laboratory's choice under this subsection shall:
13                  (i)    if the requested frequencies are not available
14            to the laboratory for the ethnic or racial group
15            requested, provide the requested frequencies compiled in
16            a manner recognized by accrediting bodies; or
17                  (ii)   engage another laboratory to perform the
18            calculations.
19            (3)   The laboratory may use its own statistical estimate
20      if there is a question of which ethnic or racial group is
21      appropriate. The laboratory shall calculate the frequencies
22      using statistics, if available, for any other ethnic or
23      racial group requested.
24      (d)   Discretion to require additional genetic testing.--If,
25   after recalculation of the relationship index under subsection
26   (c) using a different ethnic or racial group, genetic testing
27   under section 9506 (relating to genetic testing results;
28   challenge to results) does not identify an individual as a
29   genetic parent of a child, the court may require

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