Bill > SR204

This resolution urges all agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to develop the technological capability to use diacritical marks (accent marks that change the sound of letters) on names in all official Commonwealth-issued documents by July 1, 2027. The resolution highlights that the current inability to include diacritical marks, particularly at the Department of Transportation (PennDOT), can cause significant problems for individuals, such as difficulties confirming identity, completing applications, and accessing services. While most state agencies already have this capability, PennDOT's legacy mainframe systems are technologically outdated and cannot accommodate these marks. The resolution emphasizes the importance of respecting human dignity by allowing people's names to be spelled correctly on official documents, and the Senate stands ready to provide resources to expedite the modernization of these systems. The underlying goal is to ensure that all Pennsylvanians can have their names accurately represented on government-issued identification and documentation.

Government Affairs

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sr204