On July 11, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro approved Senate Bill No. 700, now Act No. 55 of 2024 (the “Act”). The Act amends several sections of the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949 (the “School Code”).
In Part Two of our School Administrators’ Guide to Act 55, KingSpry’s Education Law Chair Emeritus, John E. Freund, III, Esq., and Education Law Attorney, Sarah Modrick, Esq., LL.M., discuss the provisions impacting school health services.
State Reimbursement for Feminine Hygiene Products
The Act amends Section 2505.1 of Article XXV and permits the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Education, to use up to three million dollars ($3,000,000) from money appropriated for school health services to award grants to schools for feminine hygiene products to be provided to students at no expense. The grants will be awarded in an amount that is proportional to the number of students enrolled in a school entity.
Vision Screening and Examinations
The Act also amends Section 1403.1 of Article XIV to authorize the Department of Health to “promulgate regulations to establish vision screening standards…” The amendments require school vision screenings and examinations to be performed by school health personnel or screeners with specific training in vision screening techniques and protocols approved by the Department of Health.
