PRINTER'S NO. 163
No. 153 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY YOUNGBLOOD, THOMAS, LAUGHLIN, KAISER, MELIO,
HALUSKA, WOJNAROSKI, RAMOS, BOSCOLA, DALEY, PISTELLA, PESCI,
MYERS AND HORSEY, JANUARY 29, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 29, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for health services
6 and for dental examinations and dental hygiene services.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1402(a.1) and (e) of the act of March 10,
10 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
11 amended or added July 15, 1957 (P.L.937, No.404) and December 7,
12 1965 (P.L.1041, No.390), are amended and the section is amended
13 by adding subsections to read:
14 Section 1402. Health Services.--* * *
15 (a.1) Every child of school age shall be provided with
16 school nurse services: Provided, however, That the number of
17 pupils under the care of each school nurse shall not exceed [one
18 thousand five hundred (1,500)] seven hundred fifty (750).
19 * * *
1 (e) The school physicians of each district or joint board
2 shall make a medical examination and a comprehensive appraisal
3 of the health of every child of school age, (1) upon original
4 entry into school in the Commonwealth, (2) while in [sixth]
5 fifth grade, (3) while in [eleventh] eighth grade, and (4)
6 [prior to the issuance of a farm or domestic service permit
7 unless the child has been given a scheduled or special medical
8 examination within the preceding four months.] while in eleventh
9 grade. The health record of the child shall be made available to
10 the school physician at the time of the regularly scheduled
11 health appraisals.
12 * * *
13 (g) A child shall be eligible for practice or participation
14 in a sport only when there is on file with the school nurse a
15 certificate of consent for each sport which is signed by his
16 parent or guardian.
17 (h) No child shall be eligible to represent his high school
18 in any interscholastic athletic contest unless he has been
19 examined by a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathic
20 medicine, a certified school nurse practitioner or physician
21 assistant before his first sports season of that academic year,
22 and the physician, certified school nurse practitioner or
23 physician assistant has signed an examination certificate.
24 Before each subsequent sports season of the same academic year,
25 he shall be reexamined or certified by a licensed physician of
26 medicine or osteopathic medicine, a certified school nurse
27 practitioner or a physician assistant that his condition is
28 satisfactory before he commences to train or practice the
29 intended sport, and the physician, certified school nurse
30 practitioner or physician assistant shall sign the examination
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1 certificate. The examination for fall sports shall not be given
2 earlier than July 1. The examination, reexamination or
3 certification for all other sports shall not be given earlier
4 than six (6) weeks prior to the beginning of practice for each
5 applicable sport.
6 Section 2. Section 1403 of the act, amended August 27, 1963
7 (P.L.1380, No.535), is amended to read:
8 Section 1403. Dental Examinations and Dental Hygiene
9 Services.--(a) All children of school age in the Commonwealth,
10 (i) upon original entry into the school, (ii) while in the third
11 grade, [and] (iii) while in the seventh grade, and (iv) while in
12 the tenth grade, shall be given a dental examination by a school
13 dentist: Provided, however, That this requirement shall not
14 apply to those school districts or joint school boards which
15 have instituted a program of dental hygiene services as provided
16 in subsection (b) of this section.
17 (b) Any school district or joint school board may institute
18 a program of dental hygiene services for children of school age,
19 which program shall be approved by the Secretary of Health, and
20 for that purpose may employ dental hygienists.
21 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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