PRINTER'S NO. 62
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 74
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SMITH, PROBST, GIRAL AND JAMES, JANUARY 14, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 14, 2025
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 67 (Public Welfare) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, in mental health and intellectual
3 disabilities, providing for autism screening.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Part III of Title 67 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
8 CHAPTER 41
9 AUTISM SCREENING
10 Sec.
11 4101. Definitions.
12 4102. Autism screening.
13 § 4101. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
15 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16 context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "Licensed child care provider." A premises licensed under 55
18 Pa. Code Ch. 20 (relating to licensure or approval of facilities
19 and agencies) and operating under the requirements of 55 Pa.
 1 Code Ch. 3270 (relating to child day care centers) that provides
2 care at any one time for seven or more minors unrelated to the
3 operator.
4 § 4102. Autism screening.
5 The department shall:
6 (1) Develop an autism screening tool that may be used by
7 a licensed child care provider in this Commonwealth to screen
8 children who are 18 months of age, 24 months of age and 36
9 months of age in the licensed child care provider's care for
10 autism.
11 (2) Develop and distribute instructions regarding the
12 use of the autism screening tool, including all of the
13 following information:
14 (i) A notice that the autism screening tool should
15 not be construed as a medical diagnosis.
16 (ii) A list of resources pertaining to the diagnosis
17 of autism and applicable services within this
18 Commonwealth.
19 (3) Provide a licensed child care provider with the
20 information under paragraph (2) on an annual basis.
21 (4) Notify a licensed child care provider that the
22 licensed child care provider may review and assist an
23 individual with the use of the autism screening tool if the
24 individual requests assistance, but are not required to
25 provide the assistance.
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0062: