Pennsylvania HB 2710: An Act providing for mandatory reporting of babesiosis; requiring continuing education regarding tick-borne disease; imposing duties on the Department of Health and licensing boards; and promulgating regulations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3787
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2710
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY WALLEN, McNEILL, MOUL, SMITH, KUZMA AND KAUFFMAN,
JULY 21, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JULY 22, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for mandatory reporting of babesiosis; requiring
continuing education regarding tick-borne disease; imposing
duties on the Department of Health and licensing boards; and
promulgating regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Tick-Borne
Disease Reporting Act.
Section 2. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly finds as follows:
(1) The rapid increase of tick-borne disease cases
within the last decade, as reported by the Department of
Health, poses a serious public health issue in this
Commonwealth.
(2) The most recent data from the United States Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that babesiosis
cases increased significantly between 2011 and 2019,
particularly in northeastern states. According to 2023
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, babesiosis
is a reportable condition in 40 states, but not in this
Commonwealth.
(3) The early clinical diagnosis and treatment of tick-
borne illnesses can greatly reduce the risks of continued and
chronic symptoms that can impair a patient's life.
(4) Health care practitioners continuing medical
education relating to the diagnosis and treatment of tick-
borne diseases is crucial to properly diagnose and treat
patients.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Babesiosis." A tick-transmissible disease whereby a
parasite infects red blood cells, primarily, but not always,
caused by babesia microti. The term includes an infection that
meets the surveillance criteria established by the United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Clinical laboratory." A place, establishment or institution
organized and operated primarily for the performance of all or
any bacteriological, biochemical, microscopical, serological or
parasitological tests by the practical application of one or
more of the fundamental sciences to material originating from
the human body by the use of specialized apparatus, equipment
and methods for the purpose of obtaining scientific data that
may be used as an aid to ascertain the state of health.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Electronic disease surveillance system." An electronic or
web-based platform used by the department to collect and manage
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information relating to reportable diseases, infections and
conditions under the act of April 23, 1956 (1955 P.L.1510,
No.500), known as the Disease Prevention and Control Law of
1955, and regulations promulgated under the act. The term
includes an electronic laboratory reporting system.
"Electronic laboratory reporting system." The electronic
platform that the department uses to receive and process
information electronically generated by clinical laboratories
and to route the information to the department's electronic
disease surveillance system when appropriate.
"Health care facility."
(1) A health care facility includes:
(i) A general, chronic disease or other type of
hospital.
(ii) A home health care agency.
(iii) A home care agency.
(iv) A hospice.
(v) A long-term care nursing facility.
(vi) A cancer treatment center that uses radiation
therapy on an ambulatory basis.
(vii) An ambulatory surgical facility.
(viii) A birth center regardless of whether the
birth center is operated for profit, nonprofit or by an
agency of the Commonwealth or local government.
(2) The term shall not include:
(i) An office used primarily for the private
practice of a health care practitioner.
(ii) A program which renders treatment or care for
drug or alcohol abuse or dependence unless located within
a health facility.
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(iii) A facility providing treatment solely on the
basis of prayer or spiritual means.
(iv) A facility conducted by a religious
organization for the purpose of providing a health care
service exclusively to clergymen or other person in a
religious profession who are members of a religious
denomination.
"Health care practitioner." An individual who is authorized
to practice some component of the healing arts by a license,
permit, certificate or registration issued by a licensing agency
or board of this Commonwealth.
"Licensing board." A licensing board under the Bureau of
Professional and Occupational Affairs in the Department of State
with jurisdiction over professional licensees or certificate
holders w