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Zay: Bill establishing requirements for school clinics passes committee
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 25, 2024) — A bill authored by State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) that would establish comprehensive guidelines for school-based health centers passed the Senate Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions this week by a vote of 6 to 1.
Senate Bill 272 would establish regulations school-based health centers will be required to follow in order to operate, with an essential focus on a parent's fundamental right to access their child's health information and be present during their child's visit with a health care provider.
"The goal of this bill is to ensure that there are standards put in place by law for school-based health centers," Zay said. "My biggest concern currently is the lack of requirements enforcing the physical presence of a parent during a child's visit to the health center. I'm also concerned about the lack of written or verbal parental consent. It is a fundamental right as a parent to be completely involved in decisions regarding your child's health until they are no longer considered minors, and this bill would ensure those rights are not looked over or denied."
SB 272 will now move to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for further consideration. To learn more about this and other legislation Zay has authored this session, click here.
State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) presents Senate Bill 272 to the Senate Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions Wednesday, Jan. 24.
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State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) represents Senate District 17,
which includes Grant, Huntington and Wabash counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
