HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) has introduced legislation aimed at closing what he describes as a “dangerous loophole” in Pennsylvania law that currently permits registered sex offenders to obtain legal parental rights through surrogacy.
The proposal follows public outrage over a viral news story involving a Tier 1 sex offender who reportedly gained full legal parentage through a surrogacy arrangement—an outcome that would be blocked under the state’s adoption laws.
Under Bernstine’s bill, registered sex offenders would be barred from acquiring parental rights via surrogacy contracts. Additionally, the legislation would mandate criminal background checks and child abuse clearances for all individuals seeking pre-birth parentage orders.
“This is about protecting kids—period,” Bernstine stated, calling for parity between safeguards in adoption and surrogacy processes. He emphasized that no one with a history of sexual offenses should be entrusted with parental authority through any legal avenue in the Commonwealth.
While Pennsylvania law places strict requirements on adoptive parents, no such protections currently apply to those entering into surrogacy agreements. Bernstine’s bill aims to bring consistency to both processes by introducing a vetting mechanism before legal parentage is granted.
The measure is expected to draw bipartisan attention, especially as concerns grow over child safety and regulatory gaps in assisted reproductive technologies.
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