Pennsylvania HB 1973: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further providing for paternity; and, in general provisions relating to children and minors, further providing for blood tests to determine paternity.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2491
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1973
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, KAUFFMAN AND RADER, OCTOBER 21, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, OCTOBER 21, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further
providing for paternity; and, in general provisions relating
to children and minors, further providing for blood tests to
determine paternity.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 4343(a) and 5104(g) of Title 23 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 4343. Paternity.
(a) Determination.--Where the paternity of a child [born]
conceived out of wedlock is disputed, the determination of
paternity shall be made by the court in a civil action without a
jury. A putative father may not be prohibited from initiating a
civil action to establish paternity. The burden of proof shall
be by a preponderance of the evidence. Bills for pregnancy,
childbirth, postnatal care related to the pregnancy and genetic
testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party
foundation testimony and shall constitute prima facie evidence
of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf
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of the child. If there is clear and convincing evidence of
paternity on the basis of genetic tests or other evidence, the
court shall upon motion of a party issue a temporary order of
support pending the judicial resolution of a dispute regarding
paternity. The Supreme Court shall provide by general rule for
entry of a default order establishing paternity upon a showing
of service of process on the defendant and a subsequent failure
to appear for scheduled genetic testing.
* * *
§ 5104. Blood tests to determine paternity.
* * *
(g) Effect on presumption of legitimacy.--The presumption of
legitimacy of a child born during wedlock is overcome if the
court finds that [the conclusions of all the experts as
disclosed by the evidence based upon the tests show that the
husband is not the father of the child.]:
(1) t he conclusions of all the experts as disclosed by
the evidence based upon the tests show that the husband is
not the father of the child; or
(2) the mother of the child was engaged in sexual
relations with a man other than her husband during the time
that the child was likely conceived.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1973PN2491 - 2 -
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