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 and Postnatal 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.

1"Down syndrome." A chromosomal condition caused by an error 
2in cell division that results in the presence of an extra or 
3partial copy of chromosome 21.

4"Health care practitioner." A person who is licensed, 
5certified or otherwise authorized by law or regulation to 
6provide or render health care services or genetic counseling to 
7expectant or new parents.

8Section 3. Dissemination of information on Down syndrome.

9(a) Requirement.--A health care practitioner that
10administers, or causes to be administered, a test for Down
11syndrome to an expectant or new parent shall, upon receiving a
12test result that is positive for Down syndrome, provide the
13expectant or new parent with educational information made
14available by the department under section 4.

15(b) Compliance.--Delivery of information prepared by the
16department in accordance with section 4 at the time genetic
17results or diagnostic conclusions are provided shall constitute
18compliance with this section.

19Section 4. Informational publications by department.

20(a) General rule.--The department shall make the following
21available to health care practitioners on the department's
22publicly accessible Internet website:

23(1) Up-to-date, evidence-based information about Down
24syndrome that has been reviewed by medical experts and
25national Down syndrome organizations. The information
26provided shall include the following:

27(i) Physical, developmental, educational and
28psychosocial outcomes.

29(ii) Life expectancy.

30(iii) Clinical course.

1(iv) Intellectual and functional development.

2(v) Treatment options.

3(vi) Any other information the department deems
4necessary.

5(2) Contact information regarding First Call programs
6and support services, including the following:

7(i) Information hotlines specific to Down syndrome.

8(ii) Relevant resource centers or clearinghouses.

9(iii) National and local Down syndrome
10organizations<-, such as:.<-

11 <-(A) Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania.

12 (B) Pennsylvania Early Intervention.

13 (C) Other relevant education and support
14programs.

<-15(iv) Education and support programs.

16(b) Form.--The information provided in accordance with this 
17act shall conform to the applicable standard or standards 
18provided in the Enhanced National Standards for Culturally and 
19Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care as 
20adopted by the United States Department of Health and Human 
21Services and published in the Federal Register on September 24, 
222013.

23Section 5. Effective date.

24This act shall take effect in 60 days.