Section 1426. Eating Disorder Awareness and Education.--(a) A school entity shall annually make available educational information and materials developed in accordance with subsection (b) regarding eating disorder awareness and education for pupils in grades six through twelve to parents, guardians and key school personnel on the school entity's publicly accessible Internet website.
(b) The Department of Health, in conjunction with the department, shall:
(1) develop the educational information and materials required under subsection (a); and
(2) disseminate the educational information and materials to school entities.
(c) The educational information and materials shall:
(1) Be developed with consideration of the recommendations from the Eating Disorder Advisory Committee established under this section.
(2) Be posted on the department's publicly accessible Internet website in a variety of languages.
(3) Explain the importance of eating disorder prevention education and provide resources for school entities and key school personnel.
(4) List the warning signs, risk factors and resources about eating disorders.
(5) Be updated at least every five years.
(d) The Joint State Government Commission shall establish the Eating Disorder Advisory Committee to offer recommendations to the department and the Department of Health concerning eating disorder awareness and education, including the types and warning signs of eating disorders, weight and body image disorder, excessive compulsive exercise and orthorexia nervosa. The committee shall consist of the following members:
(1) A designee of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association.
(2) A designee of the Pennsylvania Association of School Social Work Personnel.
(3) A designee of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders.
(4) A designee of the Association of Pennsylvania Professional School Nurses.
(5) A designee representing the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania.
(6) A designee representing special education directors or pupil services directors.
(7) A designee representing community agencies specializing in eating disorder recovery and treatment centers in this Commonwealth.
(8) A designee of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
(9) A designee of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians.
(10) A designee of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation and the Academy for Eating Disorders.
(e) Members of the Eating Disorder Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation.
(f) The committee shall meet no later than sixty (60) days after the effective date of this subsection and meet at least two times in the first year. During subsequent years, the committee shall meet at least once every three years to re-assess the information provided to school entities and parents.
(g) The Department of Health, in conjunction with the department, may identify and develop appropriate additions or revisions to the school health regulations and materials related to the development of parental educational information on eating disorders.
(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to:
(1) require a school entity to incur any cost or print, mail or create any materials; or
(2) prevent a school entity from exceeding the requirements of this section.
(i) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.
"Key school personnel." Includes school principals, vice principals, school nurses, school counselors and school psychologists.
"School entity." A school district, area career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter school, regional charter school or intermediate unit.
(1426 added July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)