PRINTER'S NO. 2271
No. 1544 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY CONTI, TOMLINSON, THOMPSON, MOWERY, LEMMOND, COSTA, HUGHES, KITCHEN, MUSTO, O'PAKE AND WOZNIAK, OCTOBER 1, 2002
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 1, 2002
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 6 services. 7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 8 hereby enacts as follows: 9 Section 1. Section 1402 of the act of March 10, 1949 10 (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), August 9, 1963 12 (P.L.642, No.340) and December 7, 1965 (P.L.1041, No.390), is 13 amended to read: 14 Section 1402. Health Services.--(a) Each child of school 15 age shall be given by methods established by the Advisory Health 16 Board, (1) a vision test by a school nurse, medical technician 17 or teacher, (2) a hearing test by a school nurse or medical 18 technician, (3) a measurement of height and weight by a school 19 nurse or teacher, (4) tests for tuberculosis under medical
1 supervision, and (5) such other tests as the Advisory Health 2 Board may deem advisable to protect the health of the child. 3 Vision tests shall be given at least annually and other tests at 4 intervals established by the Advisory Health Board. 5 (a.1) Every child of school age shall be provided with 6 school nurse services: Provided, however, That the number of 7 pupils under the care of each school nurse shall not exceed one 8 thousand five hundred (1,500). 9 (b) For each child of school age, a comprehensive health 10 record shall be maintained by the school district or joint 11 school board, which shall include the results of the tests, 12 measurements and regularly scheduled examinations and special 13 examinations herein specified. 14 (c) Medical questionnaires, suitable for diagnostic 15 purposes, furnished by the Secretary of Health and completed by 16 the child or by the child's parent or guardian, at such times as 17 the Secretary of Health may direct, shall become a part of the 18 child's health record. 19 (d) All teachers shall report to the school nurse or school 20 physician any unusual behavior, changes in physical appearance, 21 changes in attendance habits and changes in scholastic 22 achievement, which may indicate impairment of a child's health. 23 The nurse or school physician or school dentist may, upon 24 referral by the teacher or on his own initiative, advise a 25 child's parent or guardian of the apparent need for a special 26 medical or dental examination. If a parent or guardian fails to 27 report the results to the nurse or school physician, the nurse 28 or school physician shall arrange a special medical examination 29 for the child. 30 (e) The school physicians of each district or joint board 20020S1544B2271 - 2 -
1 shall make a medical examination and a comprehensive appraisal 2 of the health of every child of school age, (1) upon original 3 entry into school in the Commonwealth, (2) while in [sixth] 4 fourth grade, (3) while in eighth grade, (4) while in eleventh 5 grade, and [(4)] (5) prior to the issuance of a farm or domestic 6 service permit unless the child has been given a scheduled or 7 special medical examination within the preceding four months. 8 The health record of the child shall include the following: name 9 and address of the child; name and address of the child's family 10 physician; general health information; a family health history; 11 and specific information relating to a cardiovascular, 12 abdominal, neurological, ear-nose-throat, dental and orthopedic 13 physical examination and any abnormalities or other health 14 issues. The health record of the child shall be made available 15 to the school physician at the time of the regularly scheduled 16 health appraisals and shall be attached to any form required to 17 allow a child to participate in sports. 18 (f) The Secretary of Health, upon petition of the school 19 board or joint school board or on his own initiative with the 20 concurrence of the school board or joint school board, may 21 modify for individual school districts the school health 22 services program specified in this section. The program as 23 modified shall conform to approved medical or dental practices 24 and shall permit valid statistical appraisals of the various 25 components of the program. 26 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. H19L24DMS/20020S1544B2271 - 3 -