PRINTER'S NO. 1743
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1249
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, STREET, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, BREWSTER,
SCHWANK, KEARNEY, SAVAL, COLLETT AND KANE, JUNE 20, 2024
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JUNE 20, 2024
AN ACT
1 Prohibiting governmental action against parents, legal
2 custodians and legal guardians of minors in the provision of
3 certain information and services to minors; and providing for
4 certain protection from child abuse claims.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Protecting
9 Parents of Transgender Children Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Child abuse." As defined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303(b.1)
15 (relating to definitions).
16 "Evidence-based." The use of current best evidence in making
17 decisions about the care of an individual patient and
18 integrating individual clinical expertise with the best
19 available external clinical evidence from systematic research.
 1 "Medically accurate." One of the following:
2 (1) verified or supported by the weight of peer-reviewed
3 medical research conducted in compliance with accepted
4 scientific methods;
5 (2) recognized as correct and objective by leading
6 medical organizations with relevant expertise; or
7 (3) recommended by or affirmed in the medical practice
8 guidelines of a nationally recognized accrediting
9 organization.
10 "Medically appropriate." Consistent with all of the
11 following:
12 (1) applicable legal, health and professional standards;
13 (2) a patient's clinical and other circumstances; and
14 (3) a patient's reasonably known wishes and beliefs.
15 Section 3. Governmental prohibition.
16 Neither the Commonwealth nor a political subdivision may
17 prohibit a parent, legal custodian or legal guardian of a minor
18 from obtaining, aiding the minor in obtaining or allowing the
19 minor to obtain:
20 (1) information that is medically accurate and medically
21 appropriate for the minor; or
22 (2) a medical service for the minor in a manner that is
23 evidence-based and medically appropriate.
24 Section 4. Protection from child abuse claims.
25 It shall not constitute child abuse for a parent, legal
26 custodian or legal guardian of a minor to obtain, aid the minor
27 in obtaining or allow the minor to obtain:
28 (1) information that is medically accurate and medically
29 appropriate for the minor; or
30 (2) a medical service for the minor in a manner that is
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1 evidence-based and medically appropriate.
2 Section 5. Effective date.
3 This act shall take effect immediately.
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