HB 1077 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, establishing the Commission on Children's Vision and providing for duties of Commission on Children's Vision.

PRINTER'S NO.   1195

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1077
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI,
        RABB, SANCHEZ, CERRATO, PARKER, PROBST, GIRAL, CURRY, KHAN,
        D. WILLIAMS, MALAGARI AND O'MARA, APRIL 1, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 1, 2025


                                    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," in school health services,
 6      establishing the Commission on Children's Vision and
 7      providing for duties of Commission on Children's Vision.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12   section to read:
13      Section 1403.2.    Commission on Children's Vision.--(a)   The
14   Commission on Children's Vision is established as a departmental
15   administrative commission under the concurrent authority of the
16   Department of Education and the Department of Health with all
17   the powers and duties generally vested in and imposed upon the
18   commissions under the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175),
19   known as "The Administrative Code of 1929."
20      (b)   The commission shall be administratively housed within
 1   the Department of Education and the Department of Health and
 2   shall be staffed and supported by the Department of Education
 3   and the Department of Health as provided under this section.
 4      (c)   In order for the commission to fulfill its duties and
 5   exercise its authority under this section:
 6      (1)   An agreement shall be executed between the Department of
 7   Education, the Department of Health and the commission, which
 8   shall define and delineate the role and responsibility of each
 9   agency in assisting the commission in fulfilling its duties
10   under this section.
11      (2)   The Department of Education, the Department of Health
12   and the commission shall cooperate in the use of staff, land,
13   building, quarters, facilities and equipment.
14      (d)   The commission shall consist of the following members:
15      (1)   The Secretary of Education, or a designee.
16      (2)   The Secretary of Health, or a designee.
17      (3)   No less than twelve vision care professionals that work
18   for local nonprofit organizations that provide eyeglasses to
19   children in this Commonwealth, who shall be jointly appointed by
20   the Secretary of Education and Secretary of Health.
21      (e)   To the extent practicable, from members initially
22   appointed under subsection (d)(3), an equal number shall draw
23   lots to serve for a term of three years, for a term of two years
24   and for a term of one year. Thereafter, all members under
25   subsection (d)(3) shall be appointed for a term of three years.
26   Each member under subsection (d)(3) shall continue to serve
27   until a successor is appointed.
28      (f)   The chairperson of the commission shall rotate on an
29   annual basis between the Secretary of Education or the Secretary
30   of Health, with the Secretary of Education chairing the first

20250HB1077PN1195                  - 2 -
 1   annual rotation.
 2      (g)   The commission shall keep a record of its official
 3   actions and may perform acts and implement policies, procedures
 4   and guidelines as may be necessary.
 5      (h)   The commission shall hold its first meeting within
 6   thirty (30) days of the effective date of this subsection.
 7      (i)   The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the
 8   chairperson.
 9      (j)   The members of the commission may not receive
10   compensation or reimbursement for their service.
11      (k)   The General Assembly shall provide administrative
12   support, meeting space and other assistance required by the
13   commission to carry out its duties under this section in
14   cooperation with the Department of Education and Department of
15   Health. The Department of Education and the Department of Health
16   shall provide the commission with data, research and other
17   information upon request by the commission.
18      (l)   The commission shall have all of the following powers
19   and duties:
20      (1)   Work with vision care professionals in this Commonwealth
21   in developing a Statewide plan to provide follow-up vision
22   examinations and glasses to all children who need follow-up
23   vision examinations and glasses in this Commonwealth.
24      (2)   Develop a model for Statewide programs to provide vision
25   screenings, eye examinations, follow-up eye examinations and
26   glasses to students who need them for little to no cost to
27   students and families.
28      (3)   Provide support and coordination for Statewide and local
29   activities regarding the programs under clause (2).
30      (4)   Review and make findings and recommendations related to

20250HB1077PN1195                  - 3 -
 1   children's vision care in this Commonwealth.
 2      (5)   Consult with and utilize experts to assist in carrying
 3   out the duties under this subsection.
 4      (6)   Investigate, review and issue an annual report on the
 5   status of the programs under clause (2) as required under
 6   subsection (m).
 7      (m)   By December 31 each year, the commission shall submit a
 8   report to the Governor of the General Assembly on the status of
 9   children's access to eye examinations and glasses in this
10   Commonwealth. The report shall include all of the following:
11      (1)   Outline Statewide programs that provide vision
12   screenings, eye examinations, follow-up eye examinations and
13   glasses to students who need them and their achievements.
14      (2)   Assess the trends and needs in school entities regarding
15   students who need glasses and do not have glasses.
16      (3)   Make programming recommendations to help more children
17   who need glasses receive them.
18      (4)   Highlight new initiatives and recommend future needs for
19   Statewide programs that provide vision screenings, eye
20   examinations, follow-up eye examinations and glasses to
21   students.
22      (5)   Make recommendations to the Governor and the General
23   Assembly regarding legislative or regulatory changes to improve
24   children's access to glasses.
25      (n)   The Department of Education and the Department of Health
26   shall provide staff to assist the commission with the
27   commission's duties. The Department of Education and the
28   Department of Health shall assign an executive director of the
29   commission who shall oversee elementary and secondary students'
30   glasses needs in this Commonwealth and serve as the director of

20250HB1077PN1195                    - 4 -
 1   outreach for the commission and staff who may be employed on or
 2   after the effective date of this subsection.
 3      (o)     The implementation of this section shall be subject to
 4   money appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of
 5   Education or the Department of Health, and the money shall be
 6   used to carry out the purposes of this section. The Department
 7   of Education and the Department of Health may accept grants and
 8   donations from all public and private sources, including the
 9   Federal Government, to pay for costs incurred for the
10   implementation and continuance of the provisions of this
11   section.
12      (p)     The following words and phrases when used in this
13   section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
14   unless context clearly indicates otherwise:
15      "Commission."     The Commission for Children's Vision
16   established under this section.
17      "School entity."     Any public school, including a charter
18   school or cyber charter school, private school, nonpublic
19   school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
20      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB1077PN1195                    - 5 -