HB 1077 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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, establishing the Commission on Children's Vision and providing for duties of Commission on Children's Vision.

HB 1077 establishes the Commission on Children's Vision within Pennsylvania's Department of Education and Department of Health to address children's vision care needs. The commission will develop statewide plans and low-cost programs for vision screenings, follow-up exams, and glasses for students who need them, while coordinating with local vision care providers. It must issue annual reports by December 31 detailing program achievements, trends in unmet vision care needs, and recommendations for improving access. The commission, composed of state education/health officials and 12 vision care professionals, will not receive compensation but will receive administrative support from the departments. This bill directly affects Pennsylvania schoolchildren requiring vision care and the state departments responsible for health and education services.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 1, 2025 Last action May 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1195 Printer's No. PN3089 · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly amended to expand the Commission on Children's Vision from a simple advisory body into an active entity with specific duties to develop statewide programs for free vision care. The changes include adding new members representing diverse school districts and specialties, requiring an annual report with specific data points, and establishing a six-year review cycle. Additionally, the definition of 'school entity' was broadened to explicitly include private and nonpublic schools, ensuring these institutions are covered under the bill's provisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include private and nonpublic schools under the definition of 'school entity,' and the commission's role was strengthened to include active program development and a mandatory six-year reconstitution review.
REQUIREMENT

The commission's composition was expanded to include representatives from urban, rural, and suburban districts, diverse vision care specialties, and community organizations, replacing the previous generic list of professionals.

A new requirement mandates that the commission elect its own chairperson rather than having the chair rotate automatically between the Secretaries of Education and Health.

A new six-year review cycle was added, requiring the commission to be fully reconstituted and hold public hearings to assess the status of children's access to vision care.

The commission's duties were expanded to include investigating, reviewing, and issuing an annual report on the status of programs, in addition to developing models and providing support.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the first annual report was changed from 'December 31 each year' to 'December 31 of the first full calendar year after the effective date of this subsection.'

DEFINITION

The definition of 'school entity' was modified to explicitly include 'private school or nonpublic school' alongside public schools, charter schools, and cyber charter schools.

Floor votes · House May 4, 2026

How they voted

15051
Passed
Total votes 201
May 4, 2026
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican99
48 Yea 51 Nay
51% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
May 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
May 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Apr 29, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health
lower
1 primary · 18 co-sponsors

Sponsors