1Amending the act of December 19, 1990 (P.L.1372, No.212),
2entitled "An act providing for early intervention services
3for infants, toddlers and preschool children who qualify;
4establishing the Interagency Coordinating Council and
5providing for its powers and duties; and conferring powers
6and duties upon the Department of Education and the State
7Board of Education, the Department of Health and the
8Department of Public Welfare," further providing for
9definitions and for child identification, assessment and
10tracking system.

11The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12hereby enacts as follows:

13Section 1. Section 103 of the act of December 19, 1990
14(P.L.1372, No.212), known as the Early Intervention Services
15System Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:

16Section 103. Definitions.

17The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
18have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
19context clearly indicates otherwise:

20* * *

21"Homeless." Lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime

1residence under any of the following circumstances:

2(1) A child who:

3(i) Is sharing the housing of another person due to
4loss of housing, economic hardship or other reason.

5(ii) Is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park or
6camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate
7accommodations.

8(iii) Is living in an emergency or transitional
9shelter.

10(iv) Is abandoned at a hospital.

11(v) Is awaiting foster care placement.

12(vi) Has a primary nighttime residence that is a
13public or a private place not designed for or ordinarily
14used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human
15beings.

16(vii) Is living in a car, park, public space,
17abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train
18station or similar setting.

19(2) A migratory child who qualifies as homeless for the
20purposes of this act because the child is living in one of
21the circumstances under paragraph (1).

22* * *

23Section 2. Section 305(b) of the act is amended to read:

24Section 305. Child identification, assessment and tracking
25system.

26* * *

27(b) At-risk children.--For the purposes of child
28identification, assessment and tracking for infants and
29toddlers, the Department of Public Welfare shall establish, by
30regulation, population groups to be included in these

1activities. The population groups shall include, but not be
2limited to, children whose birth weight is under 1,500 grams;
3children cared for in neonatal intensive care units of
4hospitals; children born to chemically dependent mothers and
5referred by a physician, health care provider or parent;
6children who are seriously abused or neglected, as substantiated
7and referred by the county children and youth agency under [the
8act of November 26, 1975 (P.L.438, No.124), known as the Child
9Protective Services Law; and] 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to 
10child protective services); children with confirmed dangerous
11levels of lead poisoning as set by the Department of Health; and 
12children who are homeless. The Department of Public Welfare may
13establish other population groups by regulation as it deems
14necessary.

15* * *

16Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.