1Requiring certain health care practitioners to disseminate
2information relating to Down syndrome; and imposing duties on
3the Department of Health.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Short title.

7This act shall be known and may be cited as the Down Syndrome
8Prenatal Education Act.

9Section 2. Definitions.

10The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12context clearly indicates otherwise:

13"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.

14"Health care practitioner." A health care practitioner that
15provides prenatal or postnatal care or genetic counseling to
16expectant or new parents.

1Section 3. Dissemination of information on Down syndrome.

2(a) Requirement.--A health care practitioner that
3administers, or causes to be administered, a test for Down
4syndrome to an expectant or new parent shall, upon receiving a
5test result that is positive for Down syndrome, provide the
6expectant or new parent with educational information made
7available by the department under section 4.

8(b) Compliance.--Delivery of information prepared by the
9department in accordance with section 4 at the time genetic
10results or diagnostic conclusions are provided shall constitute
11compliance with this section.

12Section 4. Informational publications by department.

13(a) General rule.--The department shall make the following
14available to health care practitioners:

15(1) Up-to-date, evidence-based, printed information
16about Down syndrome that has been reviewed by medical experts
17and national Down syndrome organizations. The information
18provided shall include the following:

19(i) Physical, developmental, educational and
20psychosocial outcomes.

21(ii) Life expectancy.

22(iii) Clinical course.

23(iv) Intellectual and functional development.

24(v) Treatment options.

25(2) Contact information regarding First Call programs
26and support services, including the following:

27(i) Information hotlines specific to Down syndrome.

28(ii) Relevant resource centers or clearinghouses.

29(iii) National and local Down syndrome
30organizations, such as:

1(A) The Jerome Lejeune Foundation USA.

2(B) Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania.

3(C) Pennsylvania Early Intervention.

4(D) Other relevant education and support
5programs.

6(b) Additional dissemination.--The department shall post the
7information under subsection (a) on its publicly accessible
8Internet website.

9(c) Form.--The information provided under this section shall
10be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the intended
11recipients of the information.

12Section 5. Effective date.

13This act shall take effect in 60 days.