A09376
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2520
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY JOZWIAK, BARRAR, MILLARD, SIMMONS, RYAN, DAVIS,
PICKETT, MURT, DRISCOLL, SCHLEGEL CULVER, WARD, HILL-EVANS,
EMRICK, THOMAS, DeLUCA, GILLEN AND D. COSTA, JUNE 21, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 21, 2018
AN ACT
Establishing the Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS; and
providing for the duties of the Advisory Council on PANDAS
and PANS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Chapter 2. Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS
Section 201. Definitions.
Section 202. Establishment of advisory council.
Section 203. Compensation of advisory council members.
Section 204. Meetings.
Section 205. Quorum.
Section 206. Duties of advisory council.
Chapter 20. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 2001. Effective date.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
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PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Advisory
Council on PANDAS and PANS Act.
CHAPTER 2
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PANDAS AND PANS
Section 201. 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:
"Advisory council." The Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"PANDAS." Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated
with Streptococcal Infections.
"PANS." Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth.
Section 202. Establishment of advisory council.
(a) Establishment.--The secretary shall establish the
Advisory Council on PANDAS and PANS for the purpose of advising
the secretary on PANDAS and PANS, including on matters relating
to the research, diagnosis, treatment and education of PANDAS
and PANS.
(b) Members.--Except as provided for members under
paragraphs (14), (15), (16) and (17), the secretary shall
appoint the following members to the advisory council:
(1) A licensed immunologist who practices in this
Commonwealth and has experience treating individuals with
PANDAS, PANS and the use of intravenous immunoglobulin.
(2) A licensed health care practitioner who practices in
this Commonwealth and has expertise in treating individuals
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with PANDAS, PANS and, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-
compulsive disorder and other neurological disorders.
(3) A representative of the PANDAS/PANS Resource Network
a Statewide advocacy organization for individuals with PANDAS
and PANS from within this Commonwealth.
(4) A licensed osteopathic physician who practices in
this Commonwealth and who has experience treating individuals
with PANDAS and PANS.
(5) A medical researcher with experience conducting
research concerning PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, tic disorder and other
neurological disorders.
(6) A certified dietitian or nutritionist who practices
in this Commonwealth and provides services to children with
PANDAS, PANS, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive
disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions neurological
disorders.
(7) A representative of a professional organization in
this Commonwealth for school psychologists who is a school
psychologist.
(8) A child psychiatrist who has experience treating
individuals with PANDAS and, PANS, autism spectrum disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and other neurological
disorders.
(9) A representative of a professional organization in
this Commonwealth for school nurses who is a school nurse.
(10) A pediatrician who has experience treating
individuals with PANDAS and, PANS, autism spectrum disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and other neurological
disorders.
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(11) A representative of an organization focused on
autism.
(12) A parent with a child who has been diagnosed with
PANDAS or PANS.
(13) A licensed social worker who practices whose
practice focuses on children in this Commonwealth.
(14) A representative of the Bureau of Special Education
of the Department of Education.
(15) The chair and minority chair of the Health and
Human Services Committee of the Senate or the chair's
designee their designees.
(16) The chair and minority chair of the Health
Committee of the House of Representatives or the chair's
designee their designees.
(17) The secretary or the secretary's designee, who
shall be a nonvoting member.
(c) General Assembly.--A member of the advisory committee
under subsection (b)(1) through (13) may be a member of the
General Assembly.
(c.1) Doctors.--The physician members of the council shall
include at least one medical doctor and at least one osteopathic
doctor.
(d) Deadline.--All appointments to the advisory council
shall be made no later than 30 days after the effective date of
this act.
Section 203. Compensation of advisory council members.
A member of the advisory council shall receive no
compensation except for reimbursement for necessary expenses
incurred in performing the member's duties.
Section 204. Meetings.
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The secretary shall call first meeting of the advisory
council no later than 60 days after the effective date of this
act. The advisory council shall meet upon the call of the chair
or upon the request of a majority of the advisory council
members.
Section 205. Quorum.
A majority of the advisory council members shall constitute a
quorum. A majority vote of a quorum shall be required for any
official action of the advisory council.
Section 206. Duties of advisory council.
The advisory council shall have the following duties:
(1) The advisory council shall elect the chair of the
advisory council.
(2) No later than January 1, 2020, and annually
thereafter, the advisory council shall submit a report to the
Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the
Health Committee of the House of Representatives. The report
shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations on the
following matters:
(i) Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and
treatment of PANDAS and PANS.
(ii) Mechanisms to increase clinical awareness and
education of PANDAS and PANS among health care
practitioners, including pediatricians, school-based
health centers and providers of mental health services.
(iii) Outreach programs for educators and parents to
increase awareness of PANDAS and PANS.
(iv) The development of a network of volunteer
experts on the diagnosis and treatment of PANDAS and PANS
to assist in education and outreach.
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CHAPTER 20
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 2001. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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