Pennsylvania House passes bill clarifying legal parent-child relationship when using a surrogate

House Bill 350 passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday with the goal of establishing a state Uniform Parentage Act (UPA) to clarify the parent-child relationship in court.

The bill is a biartisan effort led by Representative Ben Sanchez (D-Montgomery) that seeks to establish a legal framework to establish parentage that can accomodate families that require or opt into assisted reproduction such as surrogacy or in vitro fertilization treatment.

"This relationship is essential for medical insurance coverage, decision-making regarding medical care and education, financial support, custody and visitation time, along with protecting the emotional wellness of children from protracted and harmful litigation," says Rep. Sanchez.

As Pennsylvania law is now establishing parentage is under the authority of county law which can cause confusion when laws conflict in two case relevant counties.

The proposed state UPA is based on a federal framework that has been revised multiple times since its creation in 1973 and adopted by the majority of U.S. states.

A bill identical to House Bill 350 passed the Pennsylvania House a year ago, but the House's legislative session ended before it could be voted on by the Senate.