PRINTER'S NO. 566
No. 523 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, RHOADES, COSTA, KITCHEN, FONTANA,
WASHINGTON, STACK, LOGAN, GREENLEAF, M. WHITE, RAFFERTY AND
WONDERLING, MARCH 19, 2007
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 19, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
2 "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
3 executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
4 Executive Department thereof and the administrative
5 departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
6 including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
7 Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
8 authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
9 departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10 duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11 officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12 boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14 and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15 certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16 other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17 and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
18 number and compensation of the deputies and all other
19 assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
20 commissions shall be determined," establishing the Office of
21 Women's Health within the Department of Health and providing
22 for its powers and duties.
23 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
24 hereby enacts as follows:
25 Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
26 as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
27 section to read:
1 Section 2126. Office of Women's Health.--(a) The Office of
2 Women's Health is established within the Department of Health.
3 (b) The office shall:
4 (1) Educate and advocate for women's health by requesting
5 that the Department of Health, either on its own or in
6 partnership with other entities, establish appropriate forums,
7 programs or initiatives designed to educate the public regarding
8 women's health with an emphasis on preventive health care and
9 healthy lifestyles.
10 (2) Assist the Secretary of Health in identifying,
11 coordinating and establishing priorities for programs, services
12 and resources the State should provide for women's health issues
13 and concerns relating to the reproductive, menopausal and
14 postmenopausal phases of a woman's life, with an emphasis on
15 postmenopausal health.
16 (3) Serve as a clearinghouse and resource for information
17 regarding women's health data, strategies, services and programs
18 that address women's health issues, including the following:
19 (i) Diseases that significantly impact women, including
20 heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.
21 (ii) Menopause.
22 (iii) Mental health.
23 (iv) Substance abuse.
24 (v) Sexually transmitted diseases.
25 (vi) Sexual assault and domestic violence.
26 (4) Collect, classify and analyze relevant research
27 information and data conducted or compiled by:
28 (i) the Department of Health; or
29 (ii) other entities in collaboration with the Department of
30 Health and provide interested persons with information regarding
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1 the research results, except as prohibited by law.
2 (5) Develop and recommend funding and program activities for
3 educating the public on women's health initiatives, including
4 the following:
5 (i) Health needs throughout a woman's life.
6 (ii) Diseases that significantly affect women, including
7 heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.
8 (iii) Access to health care for women.
9 (iv) Poverty and women's health.
10 (v) The leading causes of morbidity and mortality for women.
11 (vi) Special health concerns of minority women.
12 (6) Make recommendations to the Secretary of Health
13 regarding programs that address women's health issues for
14 inclusion in the Department of Health's budget and strategic
15 planning.
16 (7) Seek funding from private or governmental entities to
17 carry out the purposes of this section.
18 (8) Prepare materials for publication and dissemination to
19 the public on women's health.
20 (9) Conduct public educational forums in this Commonwealth
21 to raise public awareness and to educate citizens about women's
22 health programs, issues and services.
23 (10) Coordinate the activities and programs of the office
24 with other entities that focus on women's health or women's
25 issues.
26 (11) Represent the Secretary of Health, upon request, before
27 the General Assembly.
28 (12) Provide an annual report to the Governor and the
29 General Assembly regarding the successes of the programs of the
30 office, priorities and services needed for women's health in
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1 this Commonwealth and areas for improvement.
2 (c) Neither the director nor any employe of the office may
3 advocate, promote, refer to or otherwise advance abortion or
4 abortifacients.
5 (d) The Secretary of Health shall appoint persons to staff
6 the office, including the director of the office and any other
7 employes that the Secretary of Health determines are necessary.
8 (e) The employes appointed under subsection (d) shall report
9 to the director and the director shall report to the Secretary
10 of Health.
11 (f) The director shall supervise the employes assigned to
12 the office and oversee the administrative functions of the
13 office.
14 (g) (1) The Secretary of Health shall appoint an advisory
15 committee on women's health to assist in advising the director
16 regarding the duties required under this section.
17 (2) The advisory committee shall be comprised of persons
18 with an expertise in and a knowledge of women's health issues in
19 this Commonwealth.
20 (3) The Secretary of Health shall:
21 (i) Determine the number of persons to serve on the advisory
22 committee.
23 (ii) Appoint a chairperson or co-chairperson for the
24 advisory committee.
25 (iii) Establish the policies and procedures under which the
26 advisory committee operates.
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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