Pennsylvania SB 816: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for parent educational information regarding eating disorders.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 878
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 816
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, KEARNEY, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, COSTA AND
CAPPELLETTI, JUNE 3, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in school health services, providing
for parent educational information regarding eating
disorders.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1426. Parent Educational Information Regarding
Eating Disorders.--(a) Each school entity shall annually
provide parent educational information regarding eating
disorders for pupils in grades six through twelve. The
information shall be consistent with guidelines established
under this section.
(b) Each school entity shall provide the annual parent
educational information to all parents and guardians via email,
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first class mail or on the school entity's publicly accessible
Internet website.
(c) The following shall apply:
(1) The Department of Education, in conjunction with the
Department of Health, shall develop an Eating Disorders Task
Force that shall develop and implement guidelines for providing
parent educational information regarding eating disorders. The
guidelines shall be developed with input from specialized
organizations and entities, including boards of school
directors, school superintendents, the National Alliance for
Eating Disorders, the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses
and Practitioners, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family
Physicians, the International Association of Eating Disorders
Professionals Foundation and the Academy for Eating Disorders.
(2) The Eating Disorders Task Force shall meet at least two
times per school year to reassess the information provided to
schools and to parents. The task force shall meet at least once
prior to the school year beginning and shall meet at least once
in the beginning of the calendar year.
(d) The Department of Education, the Department of Health
and the Eating Disorders Task Force shall identify and develop
appropriate additions or revisions to this Commonwealth's school
health regulations and materials related to the development of
parent educational information, including guidance regarding the
clear delineation of health information from other
administrative documentation.
(e) The guidelines developed under this section shall
include the following:
(1) The development of a letter for key school personnel,
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including school principals, vice principals and school
counselors and psychologists, on the importance of eating
disorder prevention education and resources for schools.
(2) The development of a letter to parents and guardians
that includes warning signs, risk factors, resources and other
information about eating disorders.
(f) As used in this section, the term "school entity" means
an area career and technical school, a charter school, a cyber
charter school, an intermediate unit, a nonpublic school or a
school district.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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