Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 29 D · 7 R cosponsors

HB 1078 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for health services and for vision screening and examinations, providing for eye health examinations and further providing for examinations by examiners of own choice.

Last action — Referred to EDUCATION, April 1, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 36 sponsors

    1 primary, 35 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (29 D · 7 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Ensuring Our Students Receive Effective Eye Health Exams

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill expands the health examination requirements for school children in Pennsylvania by mandating eye health examinations and updating existing provisions for vision screenings.

  • Section 1402

    a vision screening by school health personnel or a screener or an eye health examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist → a vision screening by school health personnel or a screener or an eye health examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist

    This clarifies that both vision screenings and eye health examinations must be administered.

  • Section 1403.1(a)(1)

    a primary care provider or vision screener → an ophthalmologist or optometrist

    This change specifies that only ophthalmologists or optometrists can certify a child's vision examination.

  • Section 1403.1(a)(1)

    a vision screening performed by a primary care provider or a vision screening conducted by screeners with specific training in vision screening techniques and protocols approved by the Department of Health or has completed → a comprehensive eye health exam conducted by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within the previous twelve months.

    This mandates that parents provide proof of a comprehensive eye health exam instead of just a screening.

  • Section 1403.1(b)(1)

    Every → Except as provided under section 1403.2, every

    This establishes an exception related to a new eye health examination requirement.

  • Section 1403.2

    Eye Health Examinations.--(a) Except as provided under subsection (b), children of school age in this Commonwealth shall be given an eye health examination: (1) upon admission to school; (2) while in the fourth grade; (3) while in the eighth grade; (4) as part of the evaluation of and prior to the student becoming subject to 29 U.S.C. § 794 (relating to nondiscrimination under Federal grants and programs); (5) as part of the evaluation of and prior to the student's enrollment in a Title I reading program as specified by 20 U.S.C. Ch. 70 Subch. I (relating to improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged); and (6) as part of the evaluation of and prior to the student's inclusion in an IEP.

    This introduces mandatory eye health examinations for children at specific grades and points in their education.

  • Section 1403.2(b)

    A school district or joint school board may institute an eye health examination program for children of school age. Before a school district or joint school board institutes an eye health examination program under this subsection, the program shall be approved by the Secretary of Health.

    This allows school districts to create their own eye health examination programs, with oversight from the Secretary of Health.

  • Section 1403.2(d)

    As used in this section, the term 'eye health examination' means an evaluation performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist that includes all of the following: (1) An evaluation of vision history. (2) An external and internal ophthalmic examination. (3) An assessment of vision acuity, ocular alignment and motility and refraction. (4) An assessment of accommodation and binocular vision.

    This defines what constitutes an eye health examination, detailing the components required.

  • Section 1407

    or family dentist, → , family dentist, ophthalmologist or optometrist

    This update allows parents to use reports from ophthalmologists and optometrists for school health requirements.

Action History

  1. Referred to EDUCATION, April 1, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 35 co-sponsors · 217 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (35)

Not signed on (217)

217 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1078 do?
Ensuring Our Students Receive Effective Eye Health Exams
Who sponsors HB 1078?
HB 1078 is sponsored by Dan K. Williams (Democratic), Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (Democratic), David H. Zimmerman (Republican), Ben Waxman (Democratic), Malcolm Kenyatta (Democratic), Darisha K. Parker (Democratic), Chris Pielli (Democratic), Tarah Probst (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Nancy Guenst (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Maureen E. Madden (Democratic), Mary Jo Daley (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Ed Neilson (Democratic), Mandy Steele (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Joe Ciresi (Democratic), Christina D. Sappey (Democratic), Scott Conklin (Democratic), Craig T. Staats (Republican), Russ Diamond (Republican), John A. Schlegel (Republican), Jamie L. Flick (Republican), Paul Takac (Democratic), Joe Hamm (Republican), Keith J. Greiner (Republican), Joe Webster (Democratic), Lisa A. Borowski (Democratic), Greg Scott (Democratic), Nikki Rivera (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Tim Brennan (Democratic), Danilo Burgos (Democratic), Steven R. Malagari (Democratic), and Jim Prokopiak (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 1078?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1078?
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