PRINTER'S NO. 2823
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2137
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MAYES, CURRY, ISAACSON, GIRAL, KINSEY, T. DAVIS,
ABNEY, ROZZI, BOYD, VENKAT, BULLOCK, O'MARA, SCHLOSSBERG,
PROBST, HANBIDGE, BOROWSKI, GUENST, PARKER, CEPHAS, DONAHUE,
SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, D. WILLIAMS, POWELL AND
STEELE, MARCH 27, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 27, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for maternal and newborn
supply kit; and establishing the Maternal and Newborn Supply
Kit Fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 82
MATERNAL AND NEWBORN SUPPLY KIT
Sec.
8201. Scope of chapter.
8202. Purpose.
8203. Definitions.
8204. Program.
ยง 8201. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit
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Program.
ยง 8202. Purpose.
The purpose of the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Program is
to reduce maternal and infant mortality, improve maternal and
infant health outcomes and improve postpartum health outcomes
through the distribution of a maternal and newborn supply kit to
the parents and guardians of infants in this Commonwealth.
ยง 8203. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Community-based organization." Any group affiliated with or
organized for the benefit of one or more communities or
neighborhoods, or any group organized to benefit the quality of
life in a residential area.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Fund established
in section 8204(e) (relating to program).
"Maternal and newborn supply kit." A package containing
maternal and infant educational information and other maternal
and infant products as determined by the department.
"Program." The Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Program
established under section 8204.
ยง 8204. Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit
Program is established in the department to provide educational
information and other maternal and infant products to parents
and guardians who reside in this Commonwealth.
(b) Procedure.--The department may form a public-private
partnership with an organization to provide a maternal and
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newborn supply kit to parents or guardians of newborns residing
in this Commonwealth who complete the parent education syllabus
under subsection (c)(1) or who are referred by a community-based
organization to the department or the organization with which
the department established a public-private partnership after
the effective date of this subsection.
(c) Online parent education.--
(1) A parent or guardian who resides in this
Commonwealth who wishes to obtain a maternal and newborn
supply kit and who has not been referred by a community-based
organization to the department or the organization with which
the department establishes a public-private partnership must
complete a parent education syllabus prior to obtaining a
newborn supply kit to ensure proper use of the postpartum
care and infant care products and educate parents on the
generally accepted practices to reduce maternal and infant
mortality.
(2) The department shall create an online portal on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website containing
the parent education syllabus.
(3) The parent education syllabus shall be developed by
the department and shall include, but not be limited to,
postpartum care and infant care practices.
(4) The department shall design and implement a
sufficient certification process to ensure that a parent or
guardian has completed the parent education syllabus prior to
receiving a maternal and newborn supply kit.
(d) Maternal and newborn supply kit contents.--A supply kit
must contain the following items:
(1) For postpartum care:
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(i) Postpartum maternity pads.
(ii) Perineal ice packs.
(iii) Witch hazel pads/medicated hemorrhoid wipes.
(iv) Perineal wash.
(v) Peri bottle.
(vi) Nipple cream.
(vii) Nursing pads.
(viii) Educational information on postpartum care as
determined by the department.
(2) For newborn care:
(i) A thermometer.
(ii) A nasal aspirator.
(iii) Vitamin D3.
(iv) Diaper rash cream or zinc oxide ointment.
(v) Receiving blankets.
(vi) Footed onesie pajamas.
(vii) Onesies.
(viii) Socks.
(ix) Diapers.
(x) Wipes.
(xi) Burp cloth.
(xii) Baby nail clippers.
(xiii) 2-in-1 shampoo/baby wash.
(xiv) Lotion.
(xv) Pacifiers.
(xvi) Petroleum jelly.
(xvii) Educational information on infant care and
best infant care practices as determined by the
department.
(e) Fund.--The Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Fund is
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established in the State Treasury and shall be administered by
the department. Money appropriated by the General Assembly,
interest earned by the fund, penalties and money received from
the Federal Government or private sources shall be deposited
into the fund.
(f) Regulations.--The department may promulgate rules and
regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this
chapter.
(g) Report.--The department shall monitor the quality,
appropriateness and effectiveness of the program and issue a
report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly
within one year of the effective date of this subsection and
annually thereafter.
(h) Program operation.--The program shall operate for two
years from the date of establishment under subsection (a).
Section 2. The Department of Health shall pursue available
funding options and make efforts to establish a public-private
partnership with organizations to assist in the establishment of
the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Program and seek and obtain
donations for deposit into the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit
Fund established under 35 Pa.C.S. ยง 8204(e).
Section 3. This act shall take effect as follows:
(1) Section 2 of this act shall take effect in 60 days.
(2) This section shall take effect immediately.
(3) The remainder of this act shall take effect in one
year.
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