42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61

in effect

42 Pa.C.S. § 6101 Scope of subchapter.

Except as otherwise provided by statute or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto by a government agency, the provisions of this subchapter shall apply to matters heard by judicial tribunals and to all matters heard by government agencies of this Commonwealth.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6102 Judicial notice of official seals.

The seal of every court, magisterial district judge and other government unit, adopted pursuant to law, shall be judicially noticed. (Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment. See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6103 Proof of official records.

(a) General rule.--An official record kept within this Commonwealth by any court, magisterial district judge or other government unit, or an entry therein, when admissible for any purpose, may be evidenced by an official publication thereof or by a copy attested by the officer having the legal custody of the record, or by that officer's deputy, and accompanied by a certificate that the officer has the custody. The certificate may be made by any public officer having a seal of office and having official duties with respect to the government unit in which the record is kept, authenticated by the seal of that office, or if there is no such officer, by: (1) The Department of State, in the case of any Commonwealth agency. (2) The clerk of the court of common pleas of the judicial district embracing any county in which the government unit has jurisdiction, in the case of any government unit other than a Commonwealth agency. (b) Lack of record.--A written statement that after an examination of the records of the government unit no record or entry of a specified tenor is found to exist in the records designated by the statement, authenticated as provided in subsection (a), is admissible as evidence that the records contain no such records or entry. (Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (a). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law. Cross References. Section 6103 is referred to in section 6104 of this title; sections 1378, 1380, 1516, 1550, 3753 of Title 75 (Vehicles).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6104 Effect of official records generally.

(a) General rule.--A copy of a record of governmental action or inaction authenticated as provided in section 6103 (relating to proof of official records) shall be admissible as evidence that the governmental action or inaction disclosed therein was in fact taken or omitted. (b) Existence of facts.--A copy of a record authenticated as provided in section 6103 disclosing the existence or nonexistence of facts which have been recorded pursuant to an official duty or would have been so recorded had the facts existed shall be admissible as evidence of the existence or nonexistence of such facts, unless the sources of information or other circumstances indicate lack of trustworthiness.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6105 Acts of notaries public.

(a) General rule.--The official acts, protests and attestations of all notaries public, certified under their respective hands and seals of office, including the dishonor of all bills and promissory notes, and of notice to the drawers, acceptors or endorsers thereof, may be received and read in evidence, as proof of the facts therein stated. Any litigant may be permitted to contradict by other evidence any such certificate. (b) Foreign notaries.--The official acts and exemplifications of foreign notaries in accordance with the laws of their respective countries shall be prima facie evidence of the matters therein set forth, if they are authenticated as provided in section 5328 (relating to proof of official records). Any litigant may be permitted to contradict by other evidence any such acts, exemplifications or certificates.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6106 Certified exemplifications of records.

Whenever provision is made by law for recording or filing in a public office any document, the record thereof made, and exemplifications of the document lawfully certified, shall be legal evidence in all matters in which the document would be competent evidence. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 1982, P.L.1409, No.326, eff. 60 days) Cross References. Section 6106 is referred to in section 2504 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6107 Judicial notice of certain local government ordinances.

(a) General rule.--The ordinances of municipal corporations of this Commonwealth shall be judicially noticed. (b) Manner of proving ordinances.--The tribunal may inform itself of such ordinances in such manner as it may deem proper and the tribunal may call upon counsel to aid it in obtaining such information. (c) Construction of ordinances.--The construction of such ordinances shall be made by the court and not by the jury and shall be reviewable.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6108 Business records.

(a) Short title of section.--This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Business Records as Evidence Act." (b) General rule.--A record of an act, condition or event shall, insofar as relevant, be competent evidence if the custodian or other qualified witness testifies to its identity and the mode of its preparation, and if it was made in the regular course of business at or near the time of the act, condition or event, and if, in the opinion of the tribunal, the sources of information, method and time of preparation were such as to justify its admission. (c) Definition.--As used in this section "business" includes every kind of business, profession, occupation, calling, or operation of institutions whether carried on for profit or not.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6109 Photographic copies of business and public records.

(a) Short title of section.--This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Photographic Copies of Business and Public Records as Evidence Act." (b) General rule.--If any business institution, member of a profession or calling, or any department or agency of government, in the regular course of business or activity, has kept or recorded any memorandum, writing, entry, print, representation, or combination thereof, of any act, transaction, occurrence or event, and in the regular course of business has caused any or all of the same to be recorded, copied or reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic, or other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for so reproducing the original, the original may be destroyed, in the regular course of business, unless its preservation is required by law. Any such reproduction in order to comply with this section must accurately reproduce all lines and markings which appear on the original. Such reproduction, when satisfactorily identified, is as admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether the original is in existence or not, and an enlargement or facsimile of such reproduction is likewise admissible in evidence if the original reproduction is in existence and available for inspection under direction of the tribunal. The introduction of a reproduced record, enlargement or facsimile does not preclude admission of the original. Cross References. Section 6109 is referred to in sections 1378, 1380, 1516, 1550, 3753 of Title 75 (Vehicles).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6110 Registers kept by religious societies and municipalities.

(a) General rule.--The registry kept by any religious society in their respective meeting book or books of any marriage, birth or burial, within this Commonwealth, shall be held good and authentic, and shall be allowed of upon all occasions whatsoever. (b) Foreign burials.--The registry of burials of any religious society or corporate town, in places out of the United States, shall be prima facie evidence of the death of any person whose burial is therein registered, and of the time of his interment, if the time be stated in the registry, and extracts from such registries, certified by the proper officers, in the mode of authentication usual in the place in which they are made and authenticated as provided in section 5328 (relating to proof of official records), shall be received as copies of such registries, and be evidence accordingly.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6111 Handwriting.

(a) Opinion evidence as to handwriting.--Where there is a question as to any writing, the opinions of the following persons shall be deemed to be relevant: (1) The opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the supposed writer. (2) The opinion of those who have had special experience with, or who have pursued special studies relating to, documents, handwriting, and alterations thereof, who are called experts in this section. (b) Comparison of handwriting.--It shall be competent for experts in giving their testimony, under the provisions of this section, to make comparison of documents and comparison of disputed handwriting with any documents or writing admitted to be genuine, or proven to the satisfaction of the judge to be genuine, and the evidence of such experts respecting the same shall be submitted to the jury as evidence of the genuineness or otherwise of the writing in dispute. (c) Comparison of signatures.--It shall be competent for experts in formulating their opinions to the court and jury to place the genuine and disputed signatures or writing in juxtaposition, and to draw the attention of the jury thereto; and it shall furthermore be competent for counsel to require of an expert a statement of the principles on which he has based his work, the details of his work, and his opinion that the results are important to the point at issue, or the reasoning, analysis and investigation by which he has arrived at his opinion. (d) Jury question.--The opinions of the witnesses to handwriting being submitted as competent testimony to the jury, the final determination as to whether any particular handwriting is genuine or simulated shall remain, as heretofore, a question for the jury on all the evidence submitted.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6112 Introduction of parol evidence after refusal to produce documents.

In all matters wherein any person is directed by a court to produce any documents and such person refuses to produce such documents, and for such refusal is attached and imprisoned by a court, and subsequently discharged, persisting in such refusal, parol evidence shall be received in relation to the existence and contents of such documents.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6121 Eminent domain matters.

Eminent domain matters shall be governed by the provisions of 26 Pa.C.S. Ch. 11 (relating to evidence) in addition to the provisions of this chapter. (May 4, 2006, P.L.112, No.34, eff. 120 days) 2006 Amendment. Section 6(1) of Act 34 provided that Act 34 shall apply to all condemnations effected on or after the effective date of section 6.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6141 Effect of certain settlements.

(a) Personal injuries.--Settlement with or any payment made to an injured person or to others on behalf of such injured person with the permission of such injured person or to anyone entitled to recover damages on account of injury or death of such person shall not constitute an admission of liability by the person making the payment or on whose behalf the payment was made, unless the parties to such settlement or payment agree to the contrary. (b) Damages to property.--Settlement with or any payment made to a person or on his behalf to others for damages to or destruction of property shall not constitute an admission of liability by the person making the payment or on whose behalf the payment was made, unless the parties to such settlement or payment agree to the contrary. (c) Admissibility in evidence.--Except in an action in which final settlement and release has been pleaded as a complete defense, any settlement or payment referred to in subsections (a) and (b) shall not be admissible in evidence on the trial of any matter. (d) Credits on settlement or judgment.--All settlements and payments by or on behalf of the person making payment under subsections (a) and (b) shall be credited to the person making the same against any final settlement or judgment against such person, except that this section shall not be construed in such a manner as to change, alter or amend the effect of Subchapter B of Chapter 83 (relating to contribution among tort-feasors).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6142 Pleas in vehicle matters.

(a) General rule.--A plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or a payment of the fine and costs prescribed after any such plea, in any summary proceeding made by any person charged with a violation of Title 75 (relating to vehicles) shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil matter arising out of the same violation or under the same facts or circumstances. (b) Exception.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not be applicable to administrative or judicial proceedings involving the suspension of a motor vehicle or tractor operating privilege, learner's permit, or right to apply for a motor vehicle or tractor operating privilege, or the suspension of a certificate of appointment as an official inspection station, or the suspension of a motor vehicle, tractor, or trailer registration. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days) 1978 Amendment. Act 53 amended the section heading and subsec. (a).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6143 Registration number as evidence of operation of vehicle.

(a) General rule.--In any action or proceeding for the recovery of a civil penalty for an infraction of the provisions of any law relating to the ownership or operation of any conveyance by air, land or water or any game or fish law or any local ordinance, rule or regulation relating thereto, the registration number displayed on a conveyance shall sustain an inference that the person to whom the registration number was officially assigned is the owner of the conveyance and was then operating the conveyance. (b) Inference overcome by testimony of owner.--If at any proceeding under subsection (a) the owner testifies that the owner was not operating the conveyance at the time of the alleged infraction and submits to an examination as to who at the time was operating the conveyance and reveals the name and residence address of the person, if known, then the inference arising from the registration number shall be overcome. (c) Inference overcome by verified statement of owner.--If the proceeding under subsection (a) is commenced in a county other than that of the residence of the owner and a verified written statement setting forth the facts set forth in subsection (b) is forwarded by the owner to the tribunal, the inference arising from the registration number shall be overcome. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Oct. 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 1982, P.L.1409, No.326, eff. 60 days) 1982 Amendment. Act 326 amended subsec. (a).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6144 Dying declarations in case of abortion.

(a) General rule.--The ante mortem statements of any woman, who shall die in consequence of any criminal acts producing or intended to produce a miscarriage of such woman, as to the causes of her injuries shall be competent evidence on the trial of any person charged with the commission of such injuries, with like effect and under like limitations as apply to dying declarations in prosecutions for felonious homicide. (b) Limitation.--Before such statement shall be submitted to the jury as evidence the Commonwealth shall, by competent and satisfactory evidence, prove that such woman was of sound mind at the time such ante mortem statements were made. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days) 1978 Amendment. Act 53 amended subsec. (b).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6151 Use of certified copies.

Medical charts or records of any health care facility licensed under the laws of this Commonwealth that are susceptible to photostatic reproduction may be proved as to foundation, identity and authenticity without any preliminary testimony, by use of legible and durable copies, certified in the manner provided in this subchapter by the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of the originals thereof. These copies may be used in any trial, hearing, deposition or other judicial or administrative action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in lieu of the original charts or records which, however, the health care facility shall hold available during the pendency of the action or proceeding for inspection and comparison by the court, tribunal or hearing officer and by the parties and their attorneys of record. This subchapter does not apply to an X-ray film or any other portion of a medical record which is not susceptible to photostatic reproduction.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6152 Subpoena of records.

(a) Election.-- (1) When a subpoena duces tecum is served upon any health care provider or an employee of any health care facility licensed under the laws of this Commonwealth, requiring the production of any medical charts or records at any action or proceeding, it shall be deemed a sufficient response to the subpoena if the health care provider or health care facility notifies the attorney for the party causing service of the subpoena, within three days of receipt of the subpoena, of the health care provider's or facility's election to proceed under this subchapter. However, when medical charts or records are requested by a district attorney or by an independent or executive agency of the Commonwealth, notice pursuant to this section shall not be deemed a sufficient response to the subpoena duces tecum. (2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), the health care provider or facility or a designated agent shall be entitled to receive payment of the amounts under this subsection before producing the charts or records pursuant to a subpoena. The payment shall be $20.62 for searching for and retrieving the records, $1.39 per page for the first 20 pages, $1.03 per page for pages 21 through 60 and 34¢ per page for pages 61 and thereafter for paper copies or reproductions on electronic media whether the records are stored on paper or in electronic format; $2.04 per page for copies from microfilm; plus the actual cost of postage, shipping or delivery. No other charges for the retrieval, copying and shipping or delivery of medical records other than those set forth in this paragraph shall be permitted without prior approval of the party requesting the copying of the medical records. The amounts which may be charged shall be adjusted annually beginning on January 1, 2013, by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth based on the most recent changes in the consumer price index reported annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. (ii) Payment to a health care provider or facility for searching for, retrieving and reproducing medical charts or records requested by a district attorney shall be $20.62, search and retrieval fee, plus the actual cost of postage, shipping or delivery as described in subparagraph (i), as adjusted by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth, unless otherwise agreed to by the district attorney. (3) No independent or executive agency of the Commonwealth shall be required to pay any search or retrieval fee, copying cost or other cost related to medical charts or records under this section unless otherwise required by law, regulation or agreed to by the agency in guidelines, statements of policy or by publication of notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. (b) Notice to other parties.--Upon this notification, the attorney causing the service of the subpoena shall notify all other attorneys of record or other parties, if they are not represented by attorneys, of the health care facility's election. (c) Delivery of records.--Following this election, the health care provider or facility shall hold the originals available, and, upon payment of its expenses by the party causing service of the subpoena, or by any other party, shall within 30 days deliver, by first class mail, certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal delivery, legible and durable copies, certified by the health care provider or facility of all medical charts or records specified in the subpoena. However, a district attorney shall not be required to pay for copies of medical charts or records before receipt, and the charts or records shall be delivered on or before the date specified on the subpoena duces tecum. (d) Certification.--The certification shall be signed before a notary public by the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of the records and shall include the full name of the patient, the patient's medical record number, the number of pages in the medical records and a legend substantially to the following effect: "The copies of records for which this certification is made are true and complete reproductions of the original or microfilmed medical records which are housed in (name of health care facility). The original records were made in the regular course of business at or near the time of the matter recorded. This certification is given pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 Subch. E (relating to medical records) by the custodian of the records in lieu of his personal appearance." Copies shall be separately enclosed and sealed in an inner envelope or wrapper bearing the legend "Copies of Medical Records." (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. 60 days; July 5, 2012, P.L.1138, No.139, eff. 60 days) 2012 Amendment. Act 139 amended subsec. (a)(1) and (2). 1998 Amendment. Act 26 amended subsecs. (a) and (c). Cross References. Section 6152 is referred to in sections 6152.1, 6153, 6155 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6152.1 Limit on charges.

(a) Charges.-- (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6152(c) (relating to subpoena of records), a health care provider or facility shall not charge more than a flat fee of $19 for the expense of reproducing medical charts or records, plus the actual cost of postage, shipping or delivery, if the charts or records are requested for the purpose of supporting a claim or appeal under any provision of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.) or any Federal or State financial needs-based benefit program. The fee provided for in this subsection shall be adjusted annually by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth, as provided for in section 6152(a)(2)(i). (2) No independent or executive agency of the Commonwealth shall be required to pay any search or retrieval fee, copying cost or other cost related to medical charts or records under this section unless otherwise required by law, regulation or agreed to by the agency in guidelines, statements of policy or by publication of notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. (b) Documentation.--The person making the request shall provide the health care provider or facility with clear and convincing documentation that the purpose of the request is to obtain medical charts or records necessary to support a claim or appeal under any provision of the Social Security Act or any Federal or State financial needs-based benefit program. (c) Request.--For purposes of this section, a request for medical charts or records shall include, but not be limited to, a subpoena for medical charts or records under section 6152 or a letter from a person's attorney of record for whom an Appointment of Representative form (SSA-1696-U4) has been executed, indicating the need for such charts or records. (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. imd.) 1998 Amendment. Act 26 added section 6152.1.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6153 Receipts.

When the copies of records are personally delivered a receipt shall be presented to the person receiving the records for his signature and shall be immediately signed and returned to the person delivering the records. The receipt shall contain the name of the health care facility, the full name of the patient, the date the copies of records were received and the signature of the person receiving the records. When the copies of the records are sent via certified mail, pursuant to section 6152(d) (relating to subpoena of records), the receipt used by the postal authorities shall be sufficient to prove delivery and receipt of the copies of records.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6154 Affidavit of none or partial possession.

If the health care facility has none of the charts or records specified in the subpoena, or only a part thereof, the custodian of the charts or records shall so state in a notarized affidavit and, following notice and payment of expenses, shall hold available the original charts or records which are in the health care facility's custody and specified in the subpoena and shall deliver the certified copies together with the affidavit.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6155 Rights of patients.

(a) Protective order.--Any patient whose medical charts or records are copied and delivered pursuant to this subchapter, any person acting on such patient's behalf and the health care facility having custody of the charts or records shall have standing to apply to the court or other body before which the action or proceeding is pending for a protective order denying, restricting or otherwise limiting access to and use of the copies or original charts and records. (b) Rights to records generally.-- (1) A patient or his designee, including his attorney, shall have the right of access to his medical charts and records and to obtain photocopies of the same, without the use of a subpoena duces tecum, for his own use. A health care provider or facility shall not charge a patient or his designee, including his attorney, a fee in excess of the amounts set forth in section 6152(a)(2)(i) (relating to subpoena of records). (2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as requiring an insurer to pay for medical records required to validate medical services for which reimbursement is sought under an insurance contract, except as provided in: (i) the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder; (ii) 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to financial responsibility) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; or (iii) a contract between an insurer and any other party. (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. 60 days) 1998 Amendment. Act 26 amended subsec. (b).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6156 Opening of sealed envelopes.

The copy of the records shall remain sealed and shall be opened only at the time of trial, deposition or other hearing, upon the direction of the judge, court, officer, attorney, body or tribunal conducting the proceeding, in the presence of all parties who have appeared in person or by counsel at the trial, deposition or hearing. Before directing that the inner envelope or wrapper be opened, the judge, court, officer, attorney, body or tribunal shall first ascertain that either: (1) the records have been subpoenaed in accordance with this subchapter; or (2) the patient involved or someone authorized in his behalf to do so for him has consented thereto.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6157 Retention of records.

When the copies of records are delivered to a party or his attorney of record for use in a deposition, they shall, after termination of the deposition, be delivered personally or by certified mail to the clerk of the court or other body before which the action or proceeding is pending, and it shall be the responsibility of the party or attorney to transmit the receipt obtained to the custodian of the original records. When the records are received by the clerk of a court or other body from a health care facility or from a party or his attorney of record, they shall be retained in the clerk's custody at all times except when actually used in the action or proceeding. Upon issuance of a final order terminating a case, the copies of the records will be promptly filed in a manner that protects the confidentiality of the medical information contained in the records by the clerk of the court with all other documents pertaining to the case until such a time as the normal retention period for court records expires. The copies of records shall then be permanently disposed of by the clerk in a manner that protects the confidentiality of the medical information contained in the records. Should the case be appealed, the copies of records shall be forwarded to the appellate court with other documents pertaining to the case and retained and disposed of in the manner described in this section.

42 Pa.C.S. § 6158 Obtaining personal attendance of custodian.

The personal attendance of the custodian of the original charts or records specified in the subpoena shall only be required if the subpoena duces tecum so specifies for the purpose of obtaining the custodian's testimony on an issue in dispute and upon payment of the actual and reasonable expenses of the custodian's personal attendance. When the personal attendance of the custodian is requested by a district attorney or an independent or executive agency of the Commonwealth, the fee paid to the custodian shall not exceed the ordinary fee paid to witnesses in criminal cases as specified in section 5903 (relating to compensation and expenses of witnesses) and shall be paid after the custodian's appearance. (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. 60 days)

42 Pa.C.S. § 6159 Obtaining production of original record.

The production of the original record shall only be required if the subpoena duces tecum so specifies for the purpose of comparing the reproduced record to the original or for the purpose of resolving an issue in dispute and shall be delivered within 30 days of receipt of the request. Except when the original record is requested by a district attorney or an independent or executive agency of the Commonwealth, the records shall be delivered on the date set forth in the subpoena duces tecum. (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. 60 days)

42 Pa.C.S. § 6160 Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Insurer." A foreign or domestic insurance company, association or exchange holding a certificate of authority under the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921; a health maintenance organization holding a certificate of authority under the act of December 29, 1972 (P.L.1701, No.364), known as the Health Maintenance Organization Act; a hospital plan organization holding a certificate of authority under 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to hospital plan corporations); a professional health services plan corporation holding a certificate of authority under 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to professional health services plan corporations); a fraternal benefit society holding a certificate of authority under the act of December 14, 1992 (P.L.835, No.134), known as the Fraternal Benefit Societies Code; or a risk-assuming preferred provider organization operating pursuant to section 630 of The Insurance Company Law of 1921. (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. imd.) 1998 Amendment. Act 26 added section 6160. References in Text. The act of December 14, 1992, P.L.835, No.134, known as the Fraternal Benefit Societies Code, referred to in this section, was repealed by the act of July 10, 2002, P.L.749, No.110. The subject matter is now contained in Article XXIV of the act of May 17, 1921, P.L.682, No.284, known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=42Fetched: 10/16/2026