Shenango Valley News

Legislation introduced by Senator Michele Brooks to establish a standard protocol for handling ticks removed from students during school hours is on its way to the governor's desk. The state House has approved the bill, and it now awaits the signature of Governor Josh Shapiro.

Senate Bill 232 mandates that schools notify parents or guardians in writing if a tick is removed from their child. It also requires schools to provide information about Lyme disease symptoms. Additionally, the legislation stipulates that schools must preserve the tick for parents or guardians and offer guidance on how to send it to the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania at East Stroudsburg University for free testing. If parents opt not to mail it themselves, schools can send the tick for testing and relay results back to them.

Schools are prohibited from copying test results or including them in a student's medical records. However, they may record diseases found in ticks without any personal student information for data purposes regarding diseases present on school grounds.

Senator Brooks emphasized the importance of this legislation: “Ticks carry transmittable diseases that can threaten the long-term health and wellbeing of our children if not detected early enough.” She noted Pennsylvania's significant tick population as an increased risk factor.

Brooks further explained, “The critical information available by testing a tick found on a child can help medical professionals make important decisions that may protect the child from possible neurological impairment, joint pain, irregular heartbeat and other chronic conditions associated with diseases transmitted by ticks.”

She highlighted that while Lyme disease is well-known due to Pennsylvania leading in cases nationwide, there are other serious tick-related illnesses present in the state. Brooks reminded residents about how easy it is to have ticks tested: simply place them in a zip-locked bag and send them for free testing.

Statistics show that around one-quarter of Lyme disease cases occur in children, particularly those aged five to nine who are most at risk for Lyme and other tickborne illnesses.

The bill had previously passed through the Senate before reaching Governor Shapiro's desk.