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
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."
(b) The commission shall be administratively housed within
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 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) 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
annual basis between the Secretary of Education or the Secretary
of Health, with the Secretary of Education chairing the first
20250HB1077PN1195 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 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.
(h) The commission shall hold its first meeting within
thirty (30) days of the effective date of this subsection.
(i) The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the
chairperson.
(j) 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
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.
(l) 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 to all children who need follow-up
vision examinations and glasses in this Commonwealth.
(2) Develop a model for Statewide programs to provide vision
screenings, eye examinations, follow-up eye examinations and
glasses 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 and make findings and recommendations related to
20250HB1077PN1195 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 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).
(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:
(1) Outline Statewide programs that provide vision
screenings, eye examinations, follow-up eye examinations and
glasses to students who need them and their achievements.
(2) Assess the trends and needs in school entities regarding
students who need glasses and do not have glasses.
(3) Make programming recommendations to help more children
who need glasses 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 recommendations to the Governor and the General
Assembly regarding legislative or regulatory changes to improve
children's access to glasses.
(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
20250HB1077PN1195 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 outreach for the commission and staff who may be employed on or
after the effective date of this subsection.
(o) 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
section.
(p) 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 public school, including a charter
school or cyber charter school, private school, nonpublic
school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1077PN1195 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20