SB 437 — An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, providing for duties of commission relating to name changes by certain individuals.

PRINTER'S NO.    407

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 437
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY L. WILLIAMS, CAPPELLETTI, KEARNEY, MUTH, SAVAL,
        STREET, FONTANA, HAYWOOD AND COLLETT, MARCH 17, 2025

     REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 17, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
 2      "An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
 3      because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
 4      national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
 5      organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
 6      Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
 7      Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
 8      for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
 9      an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
10      judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
11      providing for duties of commission relating to name changes
12      by certain individuals.
13      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14   hereby enacts as follows:
15      Section 1.    The act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222),
16   known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, is amended by
17   adding a section to read:
18      Section 7.1.    Duties of Commission Relating To Name Changes
19   By Certain Individuals.--(a)   Not later than sixty days after
20   the effective date of this section, the commission shall
21   establish a single online access point on the commission's
22   publicly accessible Internet website to aid individuals in
23   identifying, securing and understanding the necessary petitions
 1   and procedures associated with satisfying the legal requirements
 2   necessary to lawfully assume a change of name in this
 3   Commonwealth.
 4      (b)    The commission's online access point established under
 5   subsection (a) shall provide electronic access to features or
 6   resources regarding the following:
 7      (1)    How to draft and file a petition for a change of name in
 8   the court of common pleas as required under 54 Pa.C.S. § 701
 9   (relating to court approval required for change of name).
10      (2)    A list and explanation of the legal requirements and
11   consequences for a change of name as specified in 54 Pa.C.S. Ch.
12   7 (relating to judicial change of name), including:
13      (i)    An outline of the procedure from the point of filing a
14   name change petition to the point at which a determination is
15   made by the court.
16      (ii)     A notification of the court's publication requirements
17   relating to the individual's name change petition.
18      (iii)    A notification that the court is required to share
19   one's application for a name change and fingerprints with the
20   Pennsylvania State Police, and how the Pennsylvania State Police
21   handles that information.
22      (iv)     Exceptions to the typical procedure for a name change
23   petition.
24      (3)    The points of contact for, and electronic links to,
25   informational resources, including informational packets
26   relating to name changes, where available, of each court of
27   common pleas to assist an individual seeking a name change in
28   directly contacting the court of common pleas in the county of
29   the individual's residence.
30      (4)    At least one point of contact who:

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 1      (i)    has specialized expertise assisting individuals who
 2   confront biases or inequities rooted in gender or sex
 3   stereotypes when navigating the courts or legal name change
 4   procedure; and
 5      (ii)   is available to provide guidance to individuals
 6   regarding the particular challenges individuals may encounter in
 7   navigating the name change procedure and, if available, connect
 8   individuals with resources in their counties of residence. For
 9   purposes of satisfying this requirement, the commission shall
10   seek cooperation from other organizations with specialized
11   expertise in assisting individuals who confront biases or
12   inequities rooted in gender or sex stereotypes, including the
13   Interbranch Commission on Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness for
14   recommendations on an appropriate point of contact and providing
15   culturally responsive assistance.
16      (5)    Other features or resources that the commission deems
17   advisable to aid individuals in navigating the process of a
18   change of name.
19      (c)    At the request of the commission, an agency shall
20   cooperate in good faith with, and provide technical assistance
21   and guidance for, the development and implementation of
22   additional features or resources of the commission's online
23   access point established under subsection (a).
24      (d)    The commission shall develop and make available training
25   seminars and informational resources for judges, attorneys and
26   court personnel on the particular challenges that individuals
27   who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
28   questioning, asexual and other sexual minorities encounter in
29   navigating the courts and the legal name change process in order
30   to enable the judges, attorneys and court personnel to become

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 1   knowledgeable, competent and affirming throughout the legal name
 2   change process. For purposes of satisfying this requirement, the
 3   commission may work with other organizations with specialized
 4   expertise in assisting individuals who confront bias or
 5   inequities rooted in gender or sex stereotypes when navigating
 6   the legal name change procedure, including the Interbranch
 7   Commission on Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness.
 8      (e)   As used in this section, the term "agency" includes an
 9   office, department, authority, board or commission of the
10   executive branch of the Commonwealth that is subject to the
11   policy, supervision and control of the Governor.
12      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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