Pennsylvania HB 1803: An Act establishing the Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS; and providing for the duties of the Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2217
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1803
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY COOPER, BRIGGS, JAMES, GAYDOS, STEELE AND GILLEN,
AUGUST 13, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, AUGUST 14, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS; and
providing for the duties of the Advisory Council on PANDAS
and PANS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Chapter 2. Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS
Section 201. Definitions.
Section 202. Establishment of advisory council.
Section 203. Compensation of advisory council members.
Section 204. Meetings.
Section 205. Quorum.
Section 206. Duties of advisory council.
Chapter 20. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 2001. Effective date.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
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PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Advisory
Council on PANDAS and PANS Act.
CHAPTER 2
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PANDAS AND PANS
Section 201. 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:
"Advisory council." The Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS.
"PANDAS." Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Associated with Streptococcal Infections.
"PANS." Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth.
Section 202. Establishment of advisory council.
(a) Establishment.--The secretary shall establish the
Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS for the purpose of advising
the secretary on PANDAS and PANS, including on matters relating
to the research, diagnosis, treatment and education of PANDAS
and PANS.
(b) Appointed members.--The secretary shall appoint the
following members to the advisory council:
(1) A licensed immunologist who practices in this
Commonwealth and has experience treating individuals with
PANDAS and PANS and the use of intravenous immunoglobulin.
(2) A licensed health care practitioner who practices in
this Commonwealth and has expertise in treating individuals
with PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-
compulsive disorder and other neurological disorders.
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(3) A representative of a Statewide advocacy
organization for individuals with PANDAS and PANS from within
this Commonwealth.
(4) A licensed osteopathic physician who practices in
this Commonwealth and who has experience treating individuals
with PANDAS and PANS.
(5) A medical researcher with experience conducting
research concerning PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and other neurological
disorders.
(6) A certified dietitian or nutritionist who practices
in this Commonwealth and provides services to children with
PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive
disorder and other neurological disorders.
(7) A representative of a professional organization in
this Commonwealth for school psychologists who is a school
psychologist.
(8) A child psychiatrist who has experience treating
individuals with PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and other neurological
disorders.
(9) A representative of a professional organization in
this Commonwealth for school nurses who is a school nurse.
(10) A pediatrician who has experience treating
individuals with PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and other neurological
disorders.
(11) A representative of an organization focused on
autism.
(12) A parent with a child who has been diagnosed with
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PANDAS or PANS.
(13) A licensed social worker whose practice focuses on
children in this Commonwealth.
(c) Additional members.--The following shall be members of
the advisory committee:
(1) A representative of the Bureau of Special Education
of the Department of Education.
(2) The chair and minority chair of the Health and Human
Services Committee of the Senate or their designees.
(3) The chair and minority chair of the Health Committee
of the House of Representatives or their designees.
(4) The secretary or the secretary's designee, who shall
be a nonvoting member.
(d) General Assembly.--A member of the advisory committee
under subsection (b)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9),
(10), (11), (12) or (13) may be a member of the General
Assembly.
(e) Doctors.--The physician members of the council shall
include at least one medical doctor and at least one osteopathic
doctor.
(f) Deadline.--All appointments to the advisory council
shall be made no later than 30 days after the effective date of
this section.
Section 203. Compensation of advisory council members.
A memb