HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1046, 1152, 1349 PRINTER'S NO. 1817
No. 917 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY ROCKS, JUBELIRER, WILLIAMS, SALVATORE, HELFRICK,
JONES, ANDREZESKI AND SHUMAKER, MAY 9, 1989
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 12, 1989
AN ACT
1 Providing for the establishment and operation of regional poison <--
2 control centers SERVICES throughout this Commonwealth; AND <--
3 imposing powers and duties on the Department of Health; and <--
4 providing for funding. ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. <--
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Regional <--
9 Poison Control Centers Act.
10 Section 2. Legislative findings and policy.
11 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
12 (1) Poison control activities are important in terms of
13 reducing the number of accidental poisonings, providing
14 immediate medical attention when needed and lowering health
15 care costs.
16 (2) Poisonings are the most common nontraumatic
17 pediatric emergency and also among one of the most common
1 causes of accidental deaths.
2 (3) Poison prevention and treatment programs can be
3 successful in reducing accidental poisonings, promoting child
4 safety practices, improving public education, lowering
5 treatment costs and saving lives.
6 (4) It is the policy of the Commonwealth to promote the
7 establishment of a regional poison control network to direct, <--
8 coordinate and provide Statewide poison control services in
9 an effort to reduce accidental poisonings and to provide
10 expenditures for such purposes.
11 Section 3. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Certified regional poison control center." An established <--
16 regional poison control center which is certified by the <--
17 department to be in compliance with all the standards for
18 regional poison control centers promulgated by the department. <--
19 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
20 Section 4. Regional poison control centers. <--
21 (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish,
22 implement and administer a program for a Statewide network of
23 regional poison control centers which will provide efficient and
24 effective services to all areas of this Commonwealth. The
25 department shall examine and designate existing regional poison
26 control centers prior to the establishment of a new regional
27 poison control center.
28 (b) Regions established.--The poison control regions shall
29 be established as follows:
30 (1) The Northwest Region, consisting of the counties of
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1 Cameron, Clarion, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest,
2 Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Tioga, Venango
3 and Warren.
4 (2) The Central West Region, consisting of the counties
5 of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Franklin,
6 Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder,
7 Somerset and Union.
8 (3) The Central Region, consisting of the counties of
9 Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and
10 York.
11 (4) The Northeast Region, consisting of the counties of
12 Bradford, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour,
13 Northumberland, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and
14 Wyoming.
15 (5) The Eastern Region, consisting of the counties of
16 Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill.
17 (6) The Southeastern Region, consisting of the counties
18 of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.
19 (7) The Southwest Region, consisting of the counties of
20 Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene,
21 Washington and Westmoreland.
22 (c) Review.--Every three years the department shall
23 reexamine every designated regional poison control center.
24 Section 5 4. Powers and duties of department. <--
25 (a) General rule.--The department has the following powers
26 and duties relating to the establishment and operation of <--
27 regional poison control facilities SERVICES: <--
28 (1) To provide services, which may include:
29 (i) Dissemination of expert information and
30 consultation services to professional personnel on the
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1 diagnosis, treatment and management of suspected or
2 actual poisonings.
3 (ii) Dissemination of information, emergency first
4 aid and referral services to the general public.
5 (iii) Coordination, assurance and monitoring of
6 poison prevention and medical management programs for the
7 professional community and the general public in the
8 region it serves.
9 (iv) Collection of uniform data and research
10 activity to enhance poison control management.
11 (2) To set staffing requirements, including the number,
12 qualifications and training of personnel.
13 (3) To set operational requirements, including
14 availability of and access to services and informational
15 resources, public and professional education and protocols.
16 (4) To develop comprehensive treatment capabilities and
17 a categorized system of treatment facilities for the region. <--
18 (5) To establish a health professional outreach program.
19 (6) To establish a regional data collection system, <--
20 including a method of insuring the confidentiality of data
21 required by law.
22 (7) To make grants to certified regional poison control <--
23 centers in amounts equal to at least 12¢ for each individual
24 residing in the area served by the certified regional poison
25 control center. Designated regional poison control centers
26 shall not be required, as a condition for the receipt of
27 those grant funds, to meet the minimum standards defined in
28 subsection (b) until the end of two years following initial
29 designation of any such center. The Secretary of Health shall
30 have the authority to waive the application of the minimum
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1 standards defined in subsection (b) after the first two years
2 following designation if the secretary determines that
3 designated regional poison control center has made good faith
4 efforts to comply with such standards and that then exists a
5 likelihood that the center will conform to such standards
6 within a reasonable period of time.
7 (8) (7) To promulgate regulations for the establishment,
8 implementation and administration of regional poison control <--
9 centers.
10 (b) Existing standards.--The standards used by the
11 department for certification of regional poison control centers <--
12 shall, as a minimum, comply with the standards promulgated by
13 the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
14 Section 6 5. Annual report. <--
15 The department shall make an annual report to the General
16 Assembly of its findings and recommendations concerning the
17 effectiveness, impact and benefits derived from the programs as
18 established under this act. The report shall be submitted by
19 February APRIL 1 and shall contain evaluations of the programs. <--
20 Section 7. Funding. <--
21 The department shall annually allocate grants from funds
22 appropriated to the Department of Health to implement this act
23 and may pro rate grant allocations in the event insufficient
24 funds are appropriated to meet the minimum allocations
25 established in section 5(a)(7).
26 Section 8. Retroactive.
27 This act shall be retroactive to July 1, 1989, if enacted
28 thereafter.
29 Section 9 6. Effective date. <--
30 This act shall take effect immediately.
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