The proposed bill amends Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to create the Reproductive Health Services Address Confidentiality Program, designed to protect the addresses of individuals participating in reproductive health services who may be at risk of violence. It introduces a new chapter, CHAPTER 56A, which outlines the program's scope, definitions, eligibility criteria, application and certification processes, and participant rights, including the issuance of a substitute address. Key provisions include a three-year certification process for eligible individuals and mandates for state and local government entities to accept the substitute address, while also detailing circumstances under which actual addresses may be disclosed and establishing penalties for violations.

The bill further establishes a framework for government entities to request waivers for access to actual addresses under specific conditions, ensuring that such requests are granted only when there is a bona fide need and confidentiality measures are in place. It allows for emergency disclosures of a participant's actual address in situations that may prevent harm or are necessary for law enforcement, while imposing penalties for misuse of addresses and granting civil immunity to the Department and law enforcement agencies, barring cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. The Department is also tasked with developing implementation guidelines and must promulgate regulations by July 1, 2027, to replace these guidelines.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 997 (Jun 24, 2025):