Diabetes School Care in Pennsylvania

Diabetes is one of the leading chronic diseases for school age children with 1 out     of 6 girls and 1 in 8 boys born last year developing the disease before the age of twenty. As per the CDC diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States. Most recent statistics dictate that over 10,000 students in Pennsylvania alone attend school each day with type 1 juvenile diabetes and many more affected by type 2 diabetes, a trend that has alarmed the medical community and many of which are going undiagnosed. In the past 9 years diabetes has risen 42% in Pennsylvania while at the same time total student enrolment has decreased by almost 3% in the Commonwealth.

 Legislation is Currently Pending

Pennsylvania is currently one of twenty seven States that do not protect children with diabetes while in school.

Currently Senate bill #737 and House Bill #1113 are pending in their respective Education Committees. Please contact the following Legislators in leadership positions and request these bill be reported favorably from committee and sent to the full legislative floor for a vote

Senator Jeffery E. Piccola (R)

Chairman Senate Education Committee

Senate Box 203015

Harrisburg, PA 17120-3015

phone 717-787-6801

Email: jpiccola@pasen.gov

 

Representative James R. Roebuck Jr.                   Chairman House education Committee                          208 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202188
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2188
Phone (717) 783-1000                                                           Email: Representative J. Roebuck

  

Contact your Legislator Now

Look up your local Legislator via the provided link, inform them that you are a constituent and inform them of these bills and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same. Bring your child to meet them, make sure they understand that hypoglycemia is a real fear and that our children need to be given the tools and protection so that they may reach their potential, and have the same educational opportunities as their peers.Commit them in providing their support and tell them how important this bill is to the health, safety, and well being of 8,000 Pennsylvania children living with diabetes

Pennsylvania Senators and Representative can be reached at:

Contact: http://www.pasen.gov/   

Call, Write, and email Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell. Inform him of this bill and its importance to the 8,000 children attending Pennsylvania schools unprotected and at risk of diabetes related emergencies. Inform him that 23 States across the Nation have passed similar legislation and that it is proven to work at little or no cost putting child safety first. 

Contact: Governor Edward Rendell