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, providing for eating disorder awareness and education.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 137 PRINTER'S NO. 318
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 190
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, FREEMAN, REICHARD, CIRESI, GREEN AND
KHAN, JANUARY 16, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JANUARY 27, 2025
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, providing
for eating disorder awareness and education.
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 1426. Eating Disorder Awareness and Education.--(a)
A school entity shall annually provide information regarding
eating disorder awareness and education for pupils in grades six
through twelve to parents, guardians and key school personnel.
The information shall be consistent with the educational
information and materials and recommendations established under
this section.
(b) A school entity shall provide the educational
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information and materials to parents, guardians and key school
personnel annually via email, first class mail or on the school
entity's publicly accessible Internet website.
(c) The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH , in conjunction with
the Department of Health DEPARTMENT , shall develop educational
information and materials and make recommendations for providing
information regarding eating disorder awareness and education to
parents, guardians and key school personnel.
(d) The educational information and materials and
recommendations shall:
(1) Be developed with input from the Eating Disorders
Advisory Committee established under this section.
(2) Be posted on the department's publicly accessible
Internet website in a variety of languages for dissemination to
parents, guardians and key school personnel by school entities.
(3) Explain the importance of eating disorder prevention
education and resources for school entities and key school
personnel.
(4) List the warning signs, risk factors and resources about
eating disorders.
(e) The secretary shall establish the Eating Disorders
Advisory Committee to offer recommendations to the department
and the Department of Health concerning eating disorder
awareness and education, including the types and warning signs
of eating disorders, weight and body image disorder, excessive
compulsive exercise and orthorexia nervosa.
(f) The secretary shall appoint members to the Eating
Disorders Advisory Committee from specialized organizations and
entities, including the Pennsylvania School Boards Association,
the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the
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National Alliance for Eating Disorders, the Pennsylvania
Association of School Nurses and Practitioners, the Pennsylvania
Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Pennsylvania
Academy of Family Physicians, the International Association of
Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation and the Academy for
Eating Disorders.
(g) Members of the Eating Disorders Advisory Committee shall
serve without compensation.
(h) During the first year after the establishment of the
Eating Disorders Advisory Committee, the committee shall meet at
least two times per school year at the call of the secretary or
the secretary's designee, who shall serve as chairperson. The
first meeting of the committee shall occur within sixty (60)
days of the effective date of this section.
(i) During subsequent years, the Eating Disorders Advisory
Committee shall meet at least one time per school year to
reassess the information provided to school entities and to
parents.
(j) The department shall make available the educational
information and materials and recommendations developed under
this section to school entities within one year after the
establishment of the Eating Disorders Advisory Committee.
(k) The department, the Department of Health and the Eating
Disorders Advisory Committee shall identify and develop
appropriate additions or revisions to the Commonwealth's school
health regulations and materials related to the development of
parent educational information, including guidance regarding the
clear delineation of health information from other
administrative documentation.
(l) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
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shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Key school personnel." Includes school principals, vice
principals, school counselors and school psychologists.
"Nonpublic school." A school, other than a public school,
within this Commonwealth:
(1) in which a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
act; and
(2) that meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Ch. 21 Subch. V).
"School entity." A school district, area career and
technical school, charter school, cyber charter school, regional
charter school, intermediate unit or nonpublic school.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 30 days.
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