This bill amends Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to introduce new provisions related to drug screening and fatherhood engagement in maternal health. It establishes a new subchapter, "Drug Screening and Awareness Education," which clarifies that urine drug screening requirements do not apply if a health care practitioner determines that a positive test result for fentanyl is due to a legally prescribed treatment, and this exception must be noted in the patient's medical record. Additionally, the bill creates another subchapter titled "Fatherhood Engagement in Maternal Health," which outlines the importance of father involvement in improving maternal health outcomes and mandates the Department of Health to conduct a public awareness campaign on this topic within two years.

The bill also requires the Department of Health to provide guidance to maternal care providers on encouraging fatherhood engagement and to post relevant materials on its website within one year. These materials will include information on how health care practitioners can support fathers during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, as well as address cultural beliefs about fatherhood. Finally, the Joint State Government Commission is tasked with conducting a study on the implementation of these provisions and submitting a report within six years. The act is set to take effect in 60 days.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1360 (Apr 15, 2025): 35-59
Printer's No. 1935 (Jun 16, 2025): 35-59
Printer's No. 1360: 35-59