Veteran’s Death Certificates
January 17, 2024 10:22 AM to All House Members
Circulated By
Representative Chris Pielli
D House District 156
Along With
Rep. Joe Webster
D House District 150
Rep. Dan Miller
D House District 42
Memo
Funeral directors can request death certificates with fees waived for a member of the United States Armed Forces. In the past, spouses of veterans were entitled to receive veteran’s preference death certificates in situations where a veteran predeceases his/her spouse. This was a long-standing practice with many funeral homes for many years.
Last September, the Department of Health issued a notice clarifying that this was a misreading of the law. The clarification was issued to make it clear that death certificates for spouses of a veteran, where the veteran predeceases the spouse, are not eligible to receive the veteran’s preference death certificate. This was an abrupt change in policy for many family members of Pennsylvania veterans.
This legislation would simply amend the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to make it explicit that spouses of veterans are entitled to receive veteran’s preference death certificates.
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation.
Last September, the Department of Health issued a notice clarifying that this was a misreading of the law. The clarification was issued to make it clear that death certificates for spouses of a veteran, where the veteran predeceases the spouse, are not eligible to receive the veteran’s preference death certificate. This was an abrupt change in policy for many family members of Pennsylvania veterans.
This legislation would simply amend the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to make it explicit that spouses of veterans are entitled to receive veteran’s preference death certificates.
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation.
Legislation
Document - Introduced as HB 1963
Last updated on January 17, 2024 02:25 PM
Veteran’s Death Certificates
January 17, 2024 10:22 AM to All House Members
Circulated By
PIELLI and WEBSTER, MILLER
Memo
Funeral directors can request death certificates with fees waived for a member of the United States Armed Forces. In the past, spouses of veterans were entitled to receive veteran’s preference death certificates in situations where a veteran predeceases his/her spouse. This was a long-standing practice with many funeral homes for many years.
Last September, the Department of Health issued a notice clarifying that this was a misreading of the law. The clarification was issued to make it clear that death certificates for spouses of a veteran, where the veteran predeceases the spouse, are not eligible to receive the veteran’s preference death certificate. This was an abrupt change in policy for many family members of Pennsylvania veterans.
This legislation would simply amend the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to make it explicit that spouses of veterans are entitled to receive veteran’s preference death certificates.
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation.
Last September, the Department of Health issued a notice clarifying that this was a misreading of the law. The clarification was issued to make it clear that death certificates for spouses of a veteran, where the veteran predeceases the spouse, are not eligible to receive the veteran’s preference death certificate. This was an abrupt change in policy for many family members of Pennsylvania veterans.
This legislation would simply amend the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to make it explicit that spouses of veterans are entitled to receive veteran’s preference death certificates.
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation.
Document
Introduced as HB 1963
Last Updated
January 17, 2024 02:25 PM
Generated 05/14/2025 03:12 PM