HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Fulton County Sen. Judy Ward passed by the PA Senate which will help the estimated 1.2 million Pennsylvanians living with rare diseases. Act 14 of 2017 established the PA Rare Disease Advisory Council with a sunset date of 2025. Senate Bill 715 extends the sunset provision to 2028 and will enable the council to continue researching and raising awareness for those individuals struggling with rare diseases. A rare disease is a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States and more than 250 new rare diseases are identified annually. The council was established to assist those across the state who navigate through life with rare diseases, and it advocates for policies that directly impact Pennsylvanians living with rare diseases. The bill now moves to the PA House.
SEN. JUDY WARD