PRINTER'S NO. 658
No. 602 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, BEBKO-JONES, COSTA, CRUZ, HALUSKA,
HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KENNEY, LaGROTTA, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER,
MELIO, PISTELLA, PRESTON, ROSS, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
STEELMAN, WALKO, WASHINGTON, C. WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD, DeLUCA,
THOMAS AND D. EVANS, FEBRUARY 8, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 8, 2001
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," authorizing teen court programs in
6 high schools.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11 section to read:
12 Section 1614. Teen Court Programs.--(a) The board of school
13 directors of a school district may implement a teen court
14 program in accordance with this section as a means to take
15 disciplinary action against pupils in high school through a jury
16 of their peers. The board shall determine which violations of
17 the district's code of conduct or other standards of behavior
18 for pupils that are subject to disciplinary action shall be
1 eligible for the program and resolution by the teen court. Such
2 violations may include, but are not limited to, disruption of
3 school activities, offensive language, minor destruction or
4 theft of school property and minor incidences of assaults on
5 school property. Truancy shall not be considered a violation
6 eligible for resolution by the teen court.
7 (b) The members of the teen court shall be pupils of the
8 high school who volunteer and are selected by teachers and staff
9 of the high school for specific roles in the teen court, which
10 roles shall include jury member, prosecuting attorney, defense
11 attorney, clerk, bailiff and judge. The members of the teen
12 court shall receive training from the school district relating
13 to their assigned teen court roles, courtroom procedures,
14 questioning techniques, confidentiality, oral presentation,
15 decision making, conflict resolution and mediation. They shall
16 also receive training to acquire skills as peer leaders in their
17 schools and communities.
18 (c) The teen court may impose the following types of
19 sentences for pupils referred to the program: local community
20 service, restitution, letter of apology, mediation and other
21 alternative measures approved by the school district. The type
22 and extent of the sentence shall be in accordance with
23 guidelines for the program established by the board of school
24 directors.
25 (d) The teen court shall operate under the following
26 procedure:
27 (1) When a pupil is accused of violating the district's code
28 of conduct or other standards of behavior for pupils that are
29 subject to disciplinary action, the appropriate disciplinarian
30 in the high school shall meet with the pupil to discuss the
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1 alleged violation. If the case is appropriate for referral to
2 the teen court and the disciplinarian concludes that the pupil
3 is a good candidate for the teen court, the disciplinarian shall
4 recommend to the principal that the pupil be considered for the
5 program.
6 (2) The principal shall explain the program to the pupil. If
7 the pupil agrees to have the alleged violation resolved by the
8 teen court, the principal shall refer the pupil to a teen court
9 coordinator. If the pupil does not agree, the principal shall
10 resolve the alleged violation through any other means authorized
11 by the policy of the district.
12 (3) The teen court coordinator shall assess the case and
13 conduct an intake interview with the pupil. During the
14 interview, the coordinator shall explain the functions of the
15 teen court and the options that the pupil has to resolve the
16 complaint.
17 (4) The teen coordinator shall assign the case for a teen
18 court hearing. Teen court hearings shall be conducted at least
19 twice per school week.
20 (5) The hearing shall be presided over by a pupil assigned
21 to the role of judge, who may be subject to a district attorney
22 or member of the public defender's association or other attorney
23 licensed to practice law in this Commonwealth who is approved by
24 the district to be present at the hearing.
25 (6) During the hearing the jury members shall be given the
26 opportunity to ask questions of the pupil and the pupil shall be
27 afforded the right to offer testimony.
28 (7) The jury shall deliberate and decide upon an appropriate
29 sentence, which sentence shall be explained by the judge to the
30 pupil.
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1 (8) The teen court administrator shall monitor the pupil's
2 progress in completing the sentence imposed by the teen court.
3 If the sentence is not completed within the time prescribed by
4 the teen court, the administrator shall refer the case to the
5 appropriate disciplinarian for the school.
6 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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