HB 1212 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, providing for drug screening and awareness education and for fatherhood engagement in maternal health; and imposing duties on the Joint State Government Commission.

1935 PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

WILLIAMS, PARKER, CEPEDA- FREYTIZ, RIVERA, DAVIDSONDAVIDSON, K.HARRIS, CURRY, BRENNAN AND K.HARRIS,KHAN, APRILJUNE 15,16, 2025 REFERREDAS TOREPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRILHOUSE 15,OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 16, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, providing for drug screening and awareness education and for fatherhood Jointengagement Statein Governmentmaternal Commission.health;

and imposing duties on the TheJoint GeneralState AssemblyGovernment ofCommission. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

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

(2) The participation of the father during prenatal care appointments provides CAN PROVIDE the mother with additional <-- support to recognize potential pregnancy-related complications that could lead to maternal mortality and morbidity.

(3) When the father is involved during pregnancy <-- appointments and milestones, the mother is one and one-half 20250HB1212PN1935 - 2 - times more likely to receive prenatal care in the first trimester, which improves health outcomes for both the mother 20250HB1212PN1360 - 2 - and baby.

(5) (3) Fatherhood engagement reduces CAN REDUCE the <-- risks of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders and contributes to a lower likelihood of a preterm birth and a higher likelihood of a healthier birth weight.

(6) Including fathers in conversations about safe sleep <-- guidelines and sharing guidance about infant crying and the risks of shaken baby syndrome can help reduce infant deaths.

(7) (4) Active support of the father during <-- breastfeeding greatly increases CAN INCREASE the chances of <-- successful breastfeeding, which improves the physical and mental health of the baby and the mother.

(8) (5) Physical contact between the father and the baby <-- just after birth and in the months following birth has been shown to improve the health and development of the baby, improve the mental health of the father and foster father- child bonding in the short term and long term.

"Health care facility." As defined in section 103 of the 20250HB1212PN1935 - 3 - Health Care Facilities Act.

"Health care practitioner." As defined in section 103 of the 20250HB1212PN1360 - 3 - Health Care Facilities Act.

(a) Duties.--No SUBJECT TO FUNDING BEING AVAILABLE, NO later <-- than two years after the effective date of this subsection, the department shall conduct a public awareness campaign to increase the understanding of fatherhood engagement in improving overall health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum for both the mother and baby.

(2) Resources and information to counter popular <-- narratives that minimize the importance of engaged and involved fathers in pregnancy and parenting.

(ii) The role of the father in promoting the 20250HB1212PN1935 - 4 - behavioral health of the mother.

(iii) The role of the father in increasing the 20250HB1212PN1360 - 4 - number of prenatal and postpartum appointments the mother attends.

(2) RESOURCES AND INFORMATION THAT PROMOTE AWARENESS <-- ABOUT THE IMPACT OF FATHER INCLUSION ON MATERNAL AND INFANT OUTCOMES.

20250HB1212PN1935 - 5 - (a) Duties of department.--No later than one year after the effective date of this subsection, the department shall post materials on the department's publicly accessible Internet website that address how a provider of maternity care, including a hospital, health care facility, birth center, other maternity 20250HB1212PN1360<-- - 5 - care provider, managed care organization or other health insurance provider OR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, can provide <-- training and education to a health care practitioner about the benefits of fatherhood engagement in improving overall health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum for both the mother and baby.

(b) Contents.--The department shall ensure that the <-- materials under subsection (a) include all of the following:

20250HB1212PN1935 - 6 - (II) Maternal warning signs.

20250HB1212PN1360 - 6 - (V) Breastfeeding practices.

(B) SCREENING FOR PATERNAL DEPRESSION.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL <-- ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE INCLUSION OF PATERNAL DEPRESSION SCREENING BY PROVIDERS OF MATERNITY CARE AS PART OF CARE PROVIDED DURING PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM FOR BOTH THE MOTHER AND BABY.

No later than six FOUR years after the effective date of this <-- section, the Joint State Government Commission shall conduct a 20250HB1212PN1935 - 7 - study on the implementation of this chapter and submit a report on the study to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives.

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