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.

<-14"Down syndrome." A chromosomal condition caused by an error
 

1in cell division that results in the presence of an extra or 
2partial copy of chromosome 21.

3"Health care practitioner." <-A health care practitioner that
4provides prenatal or postnatal care or genetic counseling to 
5expectant or new parents. <-A person who is licensed, certified or 
6otherwise authorized by law or regulation to provide or render 
7health care services or genetic counseling to expectant or new 
8parents.

9Section 3. Dissemination of information on Down syndrome.

10(a) Requirement.--A health care practitioner that
11administers, or causes to be administered, a test for Down
12syndrome to an expectant or new parent shall, upon receiving a
13test result that is positive for Down syndrome, provide the
14expectant or new parent with educational information made
15available by the department under section 4.

16(b) Compliance.--Delivery of information prepared by the
17department in accordance with section 4 at the time genetic
18results or diagnostic conclusions are provided shall constitute
19compliance with this section.

20Section 4. Informational publications by department.

21(a) General rule.--The department shall make the following
22available to health care practitioners <-on the Department'S
23publicly accessible Internet website:

24(1) Up-to-date, evidence-based<-, printed information
25about Down syndrome that has been reviewed by medical experts
26and national Down syndrome organizations. The information
27provided shall include the following:

28(i) Physical, developmental, educational and
29psychosocial outcomes.

30(ii) Life expectancy.

1(iii) Clinical course.

2(iv) Intellectual and functional development.

3(v) Treatment options.

<-4(vi) Any other information the department deems
5necessary.

6(2) Contact information regarding First Call programs
7and support services, including the following:

8(i) Information hotlines specific to Down syndrome.

9(ii) Relevant resource centers or clearinghouses.

10(iii) National and local Down syndrome
11organizations, such as:

<-12(A) The Jerome Lejeune Foundation USA.

13(B) <-(A) Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania.

<-14(C) (B) Pennsylvania Early Intervention.

<-15(D) (C) Other relevant education and support
16programs.

<-17(b) Additional dissemination.--The department shall post the
18information under subsection (a) on its publicly accessible
19Internet website.

20(c) (b) Form.--<-The information provided under this section 
21shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the 
22intended recipients of the information. <-The information provided 
23in accordance with this act shall conform to the applicable 
24standard or standards provided in the Enhanced National 
25Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services 
26in Health and Health Care as adopted by the United States 
27Department of Health and Human Services and published in the 
28Federal Register on September 24, 2013.

29Section 5. Effective date.

30This act shall take effect in 60 days.