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
Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
"An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
providing for duties of commission relating to name changes
by certain individuals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222),
known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, is amended by
adding a section to read:
Section 7.1. Duties of Commission Relating To Name Changes
By Certain Individuals.--(a) Not later than sixty days after
the effective date of this section, the commission shall
establish a single online access point on the commission's
publicly accessible Internet website to aid individuals in
identifying, securing and understanding the necessary petitions
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23 and procedures associated with satisfying the legal requirements
necessary to lawfully assume a change of name in this
Commonwealth.
(b) The commission's online access point established under
subsection (a) shall provide electronic access to features or
resources regarding the following:
(1) How to draft and file a petition for a change of name in
the court of common pleas as required under 54 Pa.C.S. ยง 701
(relating to court approval required for change of name).
(2) A list and explanation of the legal requirements and
consequences for a change of name as specified in 54 Pa.C.S. Ch.
7 (relating to judicial change of name), including:
(i) An outline of the procedure from the point of filing a
name change petition to the point at which a determination is
made by the court.
(ii) A notification of the court's publication requirements
relating to the individual's name change petition.
(iii) A notification that the court is required to share
one's application for a name change and fingerprints with the
Pennsylvania State Police, and how the Pennsylvania State Police
handles that information.
(iv) Exceptions to the typical procedure for a name change
petition.
(3) The points of contact for, and electronic links to,
informational resources, including informational packets
relating to name changes, where available, of each court of
common pleas t o assist an individual seeking a name change in
directly contacting the court of common pleas in the county of
the individual's residence .
(4) At least one point of contact who:
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30 (i) has specialized expertise assisting individuals who
confront biases or inequities rooted in gender or sex
stereotypes when navigating the courts or legal name change
procedure; and
(ii) is available to provide guidance to individuals
regarding the particular challenges individuals may encounter in
navigating the name change procedure and, if available, connect
individuals with resources in their counties of residence. For
purposes of satisfying this requirement, the commission shall
seek cooperation from other organizations with specialized
expertise in assisting individuals who confront biases or
inequities rooted in gender or sex stereotypes, including the
Interbranch Commission on Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness for
recommendations on an appropriate point of contact and providing
culturally responsive assistance.
(5) Other features or resources that the commission deems
advisable to aid individuals in navigating the process of a
change of name.
(c) At the request of the commission, an agency shall
cooperate in good faith with, and provide technical assistance
and guidance for, the development and implementation of
additional features or resources of the commission's online
access point established under subsection (a).
(d) The commission shall develop and make available training
seminars and informational resources for judges, attorneys and
court personnel on the particular challenges that individuals
who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
questioning, asexual and other sexual minorities encounter in
navigating the courts and the legal name change process in order
to enable the judges, attorneys and court personnel to become
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30 knowledgeable, competent and affirming throughout the legal name
change process. For purposes of satisfying this requirement, the
commission may work with other organizations with specialized
expertise in assisting individuals who confront bias or
inequities rooted in gender or sex stereotypes when navigating
the legal name change procedure, including the Interbranch
Commission on Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness.
(e) As used in this section, the term "agency" includes an
office, department, authority, board or commission of the
executive branch of the Commonwealth that is subject to the
policy, supervision and control of the Governor.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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