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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1195 PRINTER'S NO. 3089
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, O'MARA AND BRIGGS, APRIL 1, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AS AMENDED, MARCH 25, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in school health services,
establishing the Commission on Children's Vision and
providing for duties of Commission on Children's Vision.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1403.2. Commission on Children's Vision.--(a) The
Commission on Children's Vision is established . as a
departmental administrative commission under the concurrent
authority of the Department of Education and the Department of
Health with all the powers and duties generally vested in and
imposed upon the commissions under the act of April 9, 1929
(P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929."
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(b) The commission shall be administratively housed within
the Department of Education and the Department of Health . and
shall be staffed and supported by the Department of Education
and the Department of Health as provided under this section.
(c) In order for the commission to fulfill its duties and
exercise its authority under this section:
(1) An agreement shall be executed between the Department of
Education, the Department of Health and the commission, which
shall define and delineate the role and responsibility of each
agency in assisting the commission in fulfilling its duties
under this section.
(2) The Department of Education, the Department of Health
and the commission shall cooperate in the use of staff, land,
building, quarters, facilities and equipment.
(d) (C) The commission shall consist of the following
members:
(1) The Secretary of Education, or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Health, or a designee.
(3) No less than twelve vision care professionals that work
for local nonprofit organizations that provide eyeglasses to
children in this Commonwealth, who shall be jointly appointed by
the Secretary of Education and Secretary of Health.
(e) To the extent practicable, from members initially
appointed under subsection (d)(3), an equal number shall draw
lots to serve for a term of three years, for a term of two years
and for a term of one year. Thereafter, all members under
subsection (d)(3) shall be appointed for a term of three years.
Each member under subsection (d)(3) shall continue to serve
until a successor is appointed.
(f) The ch airperson of the commission shall rotate on an
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annual basis between the Secretary of Education or the Secretary
of Health, with the Secretary of Education chairing the first
annual rotation.
(g) The commission shall keep a record of its official
actions and may perform acts and implement policies, procedures
and guidelines as may be necessary.
(3) THE CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM
WITHIN THE BUREAU OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH, OR A DESIGNEE.
(4) NO LESS THAN THREE SCHOOL NURSES, REPRESENTING URBAN,
RURAL AND SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHO SHALL BE JOINTLY
APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH.
(5) NO FEWER THAN SIX VISION CARE PROFESSIONALS
REPRESENTING DIVERSE SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS,
WHO SHALL BE JOINTLY APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND
SECRETARY OF HEALTH.
(6) REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
CONNECT CHILDREN TO EYEGLASSES.
(D) THE COMMISSION SHALL ELECT A MEMBER TO SERVE AS
CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION.
(h) (E) The commission shall hold its first meeting within
thirty (30) days of the effective date of this subsection.
(i) (F) The commission shall hold meetings at the call of
the chairperson.
(j) (G) The members of the commission may not receive
compensation or reimbursement for their service.
(k) The General Assembly shall provide administrative
support, meeting space and other assistance required by the
commission to carry out its duties under this section in
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cooperation with the Department of Education and Department of
Health. The Department of Education and the Department of Health
shall provide the commission with data, research and other
information upon request by the commission.
(H) THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SHALL PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH DATA, RESEARCH AND OTHER
INFORMATION UPON REQUEST BY THE COMMISSION. THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL OR
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.
(l) (I) The commission shall have all of the following
powers and duties:
(1) W ork with vision care professionals in this Commonwealth
in developing a Statewide plan to provide follow-up vision
examinations and glasses EYEGLASSES to all children STUDENTS who
need follow-up vision examinations and glasses EYEGLASSES in
this Commonwealth.
(2) Develop a model for Statewide programs to provide vision
screenings, eye examinations, follow-up eye examinations and
glasses EYEGLASSES to students who need them for little to no
cost to students and families.
(3) Provide support and coordination for Statewide and local
activities regarding the programs under clause (2).
(4) Review DATA AND RESEARCH and make findings and
recommendations related to children's vision care in this
Commonwealth.
(5) Consult with and utilize experts to assist in carrying
out the duties under this subsection.
(6) Investigate, review and issue an annual report on the
status of the programs under clause (2) as required under
subsection (m).
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(m) By December 31 each year, the commission shall submit a
report to the Governor of the General Assembly on the status of
children's access to eye examinations and glasses in this
Commonwealth. The report shall include all of the following:
(6) BY DECEMBER 31 OF THE FIRST FULL CALENDAR YEAR AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION, SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE STATUS
OF CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO EYE EXAMINATIONS AND EYEGLASSES IN THIS
COMMONWEALTH TO THE GOVERNOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE
SENATE, MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE, CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CHAIR AND
MINORITY CHAIR OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE
SENATE AND CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE:
(1) Outline (I) AN OUTLINE OF Statewide programs that
provide vision screenings, eye examinations, follow-up eye
examinations and glasses EYEGLASSES to students who need them
and their achievements .
(2) Assess (II) AN ASSESSMENT OF the trends and needs in
school entities regarding students who need glasses EYEGLASSES
and do not have glasses EYEGLASSES .
(3) Make programming (III) PROGRAMMING recommendations to
help more children who need glasses EYEGLASSES receive them.
(4) Highlight new initiatives and recommend future needs for
Statewide programs that provide vision screenings, eye
examinations, follow-up eye examinations and glasses to
students.
(5) Make (IV) AN OUTLINE OF NEW INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED BY
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PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE VISION SCREENINGS, EYE EXAMINATIONS AND
EYEGLASSES TO STUDENTS AND NOTE ANTICIPATED FURTHER NEEDS FOR
THESE PROGRAMS.
(V) POLICY recommendations to the Governor and the General
Assembly regarding legislative or regulatory changes to improve
children's access to glasses EYEGLASSES .
(n) The Department of Education and the Department of Health
shall provide staff to assist the commission with the
commission's duties. The Department of Education and the
Department of Health shall assign an executive director of the
commission who shall oversee elementary and secondary students'
glasses needs in this Commonwealth and serve as the director of
outreach for the commission and staff who may be employed on or
after the effective date of this subsection.
(J) THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT TO
THE COMMISSION AS DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH.
(K) EVERY SIX YEARS, THE COMMISSION SHALL BE RECONSTITUTED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (C) AND SHALL MEET AND HOLD PUBLIC
HEARINGS TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO VISION
SCREENING, EYE EXAMINATIONS AND EYEGLASSES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH,
MAKE A FURTHER REPORT AND ISSUE THE REPORT TO RECIPIENTS LISTED
UNDER SUBSECTION (I)(6).
(o) (L) The implementation of this section shall be subject
to money appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department
of Education or the Department of Health, and the money shall be
used to carry out the purposes of this section. The Department
of Education and the Department of Health may accept grants and
donations from all public and private sources, including the
Federal Government, to pay for costs incurred for the
implementation and continuance of the provisions of this
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section.
(p) (M) The following words and phrases when used in this
section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
unless context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commission." The Commission for Children's Vision
established under this section.
"School entity." Any A public school, including a charter
school or cyber charter school, private school, nonpublic
school, intermediate unit or , area career and technical school ,
PRIVATE SCHOOL OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL .
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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