PRINTER'S NO. 467
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
498
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY SMITH, HANBIDGE, ARMANINI, RADER, PROBST AND
KLUNK, MARCH 17, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 17, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 67 (Public Welfare) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in mental health and intellectual
disabilities, providing for autism screening.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Part III of Title 67 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 41
AUTISM SCREENING
Sec.
4101. Definitions.
4102. Autism screening.
§ 4101. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Licensed child care provider." A premises licensed under 55
Pa. Code Ch. 20 (relating to licensure or approval of facilities
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and agencies) and operating under the requirements of 55 Pa.
Code Ch. 3270 (relating to child care centers) that provides
care at any one time for seven or more minors unrelated to the
operator.
§ 4102. Autism screening.
The department shall:
(1) Develop an autism screening tool that may be used by
a licensed child care provider in this Commonwealth to screen
children who are 18 months of age, 24 months of age and 36
months of age in the licensed child care provider's care for
autism.
(2) Develop and distribute instructions regarding the
use of the autism screening tool, including all of the
following information:
(i) A notice that the autism screening tool should
not be construed as a medical diagnosis.
(ii) A list of resources pertaining to the diagnosis
of autism and applicable services within this
Commonwealth.
(3) Provide a licensed child care provider with the
information under paragraph (2) on an annual basis.
(4) Notify a licensed child care provider that the
licensed child care provider may review and assist an
individual with the use of the autism screening tool if the
individual requests assistance, but are not required to
provide the assistance.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20230HB0498PN0467 - 2 -
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