| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| HOUSE BILL |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY CURRY, BURNS, CARROLL, FRANKEL, KESSLER, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MUNDY, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, REICHLEY, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER, WILLIAMS AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 24, 2009 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 24, 2009 |
| |
| |
| |
| 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," in intermediate units, providing for |
6 | school social work services; and, in professional employees, |
7 | further providing for definitions. |
8 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
9 | hereby enacts as follows: |
10 | Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known |
11 | as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a |
12 | section to read: |
13 | Section 923.3–A. School Social Work Services.--(a) |
14 | Intermediate units or school districts may offer a program of |
15 | school social work services as part of the offering of pupil |
16 | personnel services. |
17 | (b) Definitions. As used in this section: |
18 | "School social worker" shall mean a certified employe who |
19 | provides social work services and support to students and their |
|
1 | families and who holds a license in good standing as a licensed |
2 | social worker or a licensed clinical social worker under the act |
3 | of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the "Social Workers, |
4 | Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act." |
5 | "School social work services" shall mean social work services |
6 | provided in the setting of an educational agency by a school |
7 | social worker. The term includes: |
8 | (1) Prevention and intervention services. This paragraph |
9 | includes strengthening school systems and fostering healthy |
10 | climates. |
11 | (2) Assessments. This paragraph includes special education |
12 | evaluations, functional behavior, manifestation determinations, |
13 | behavior interventions and mental health recommendations. |
14 | (3) Counseling services. This paragraph includes individual |
15 | counseling, group counseling, family counseling and alcohol and |
16 | drug counseling. |
17 | (4) Consultation. This paragraph includes classroom |
18 | observations, teacher consultations, case conferences and |
19 | consultation with administration on program needs. |
20 | (5) Parent and community liaison. This paragraph includes |
21 | home-school-community liaison, engaging community in student |
22 | success and home visits. |
23 | (6) Violence reduction. This paragraph includes child abuse |
24 | recognition and reporting, crisis intervention, peer mediation, |
25 | anger management and bully proofing. |
26 | (7) Referrals and collaboration. This paragraph includes |
27 | linking students to community resources and collaborating with |
28 | outside agencies. |
29 | (8) Assuring compliance with Federal mandates. |
30 | (9) School involvement. This paragraph includes classroom |
|
1 | presentations, school-wide assembly presentations and |
2 | participation in school committees. |
3 | (10) Training. This paragraph includes social skills, |
4 | parenting skills, staff in-service and parent-teacher |
5 | organization training. |
6 | Section 2. Section 1101 of the act, amended November 30, |
7 | 1971 (P.L.546, No.144), is amended to read: |
8 | Section 1101. Definitions.--As used in this article, |
9 | (1) The term "professional employe" shall include those who |
10 | are certificated as teachers, supervisors, supervising |
11 | principals, principals, assistant principals, vice-principals, |
12 | directors of vocational education, dental hygienists, visiting |
13 | teachers, home and school visitors, school social workers, |
14 | school counselors, child nutrition program specialists, school |
15 | librarians, school secretaries the selection of whom is on the |
16 | basis of merit as determined by eligibility lists and school |
17 | nurses. |
18 | (2) The term "substitute" shall mean any individual who has |
19 | been employed to perform the duties of a regular professional |
20 | employe during such period of time as the regular professional |
21 | employe is absent on sabbatical leave or for other legal cause |
22 | authorized and approved by the board of school directors or to |
23 | perform the duties of a temporary professional employe who is |
24 | absent. |
25 | (3) The term "temporary professional employe" shall mean any |
26 | individual who has been employed to perform, for a limited time, |
27 | the duties of a newly created position or of a regular |
28 | professional employe whose services have been terminated by |
29 | death, resignation, suspension or removal. |
30 | (4) The term "school social worker" shall have the meaning |
|
1 | given in section 923.3-A(b). |
2 | Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
|