Requesting Genealogists/Researchers/Historians Lobbying Participation

People For Better Access To Pennsylvania Historical Records (PBAPHR)

We are asking for your help in a grassroots lobbying campaign to make older Pennsylvania state death certificates available on-line. As you may already know, all death certificates recorded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1906 have restricted access and require the knowledge of when and where the person died, the expenditure of $9 and a wait of 5 weeks or longer for each and every death certificate, regardless of how long ago the person died. Because of the restrictions, the public is not able to use these historic records as much as they should be able to. And we’re sure many of you have experienced the frustration of either being told they couldn’t find the death certificate or being sent the wrong death certificate.

We understand the concerns about privacy, identity theft and terrorism. However, there is no reason to keep all of these records restricted indefinitely. Therefore, our basic proposal is that the death certificates that would be accessible on-line would have to be at least 50 years old (and, if necessary for extra security, only for persons born more than 100 years ago). Currently that would mean only persons who died before 1957 (and if necessary were born before 1907) would be made accessible on-line. As each year passes the next year in line would be added to this on-line database.

Several other states have already made their older death certificates available on-line, including Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Utah and West Virginia. But Pennsylvania continues its outdated and costly process of issuing these older death certificates one at a time.

Federal census records are available after 72 years. The Social Security death index (with dates, places and numbers) is very recent. There are already numerous other records available on-line that are far more worrisome than our proposal could ever be.
We are asking you to contact certain Pennsylvania state officials, preferably in writing or in person since it will have the most impact, but at least by phone or email. As we understand it only the Pennsylvania State Legislature can change the law. The governor would have to approve this change and the Pennsylvania Department of Health would have to implement any change. If you live in Pennsylvania please contact your representatives in the state legislature in person, by letter, by phone or at the very least by email. Everyone, including out of state residents, should write, phone or at the very least email the governor and even the Division of Vital Records. Naturally the more letters and other forms of contact that are made and the more people involved the better.
Talking points:

In the long run, having older death certificates available on-line would be a cost savings to the state and the state gets away from the antiquated system of searching for each record one at a time.

The public would be much better served and easier access would allow far greater utilization of these historic records by the public.

Year of birth and death guidelines will prevent identity theft and guard against terrorism.

There is no practical reason all of these records should be kept confidential indefinitely especially after a fairly long lapse of time.

Other states have already made death certificates available on-line. Why not, Pennsylvania?

Contact person for People For Better Access To Pennsylvania Historical Records (PBAPHR)

Tim Gruber: timarg@rcn.com