THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY LENTZ, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALLY, DONATUCCI, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HENNESSEY, HOUGHTON, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, MATZIE, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYTON, PRESTON, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SWANGER, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 21, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 21, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," further providing for the Office for

Safe Schools.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1302-A of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,

amended or added June 30, 1995 (P.L.220, No.26), and July 9,

2008 (P.L.846, No.61), is amended to read:

Section 1302-A.  Office for Safe Schools.--(a)  There is

hereby established in the Department of Education an Office for

Safe Schools.

(b)  The office shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)  To coordinate antiviolence efforts between school,

professional, parental, governmental, law enforcement and

community organizations and associations.

(2)  To collect, develop and disseminate information,

policies, strategies and other information to assist in the

development of programs to impact school violence.

(3)  To provide direct training to school employes, parents,

law enforcement officials and communities on effective measures

to combat school violence.

(4)  To advise school entities and nonpublic schools on the

development of policies to be used regarding possession of

weapons by any person, acts of violence and protocols for

coordination with and reporting to law enforcement officials and

the Department of Education.

(5)  To develop forms to be used by school entities for

reporting incidents involving acts of violence and possession of

weapons on school property.

(6)  To develop telephone hotlines ensuring anonymity to be

used by students, parents, teachers, school employes and members

of the community to report potential or actual violence or

possession of weapons on school property.

(c)  In addition to the powers and duties set forth under

subsection (a), the office is authorized to make targeted grants

to schools to fund programs which address school violence,

including, but not limited to, the following programs:

(1)  Conflict resolution or dispute management.

(2)  Peer helpers programs.

(3)  Risk assessment, safety-related or violence prevention

curricula.

(4)  Classroom management.

(5)  Student codes of conduct.

(6)  Training to undertake a districtwide assessment of risk

factors that increase the likelihood of problem behaviors among

students.

(7)  Development and implementation of research-based

violence prevention programs that address risk factors to reduce

incidents of problem behaviors among students, including, but

not limited to, bullying.

(8)  Comprehensive, districtwide school safety and violence

prevention plans.

(9)  Security planning, purchase of security-related

technology which may include metal detectors, protective

lighting, surveillance equipment, special emergency

communications equipment, electronic locksets, deadbolts and

theft control devices and training in the use of security-

related technology. Security planning and purchase of security-

related technology shall be based on safety needs identified by

the school entity's board of directors.

(10)  Institution of student, staff and visitor

identification systems.

(11)  Establishment or enhancement of school security

personnel, including school resource officers.

(12)  Provision of specialized staff and student training

programs, including training for Student Assistance Program team

members in elementary, middle and high schools in the referral

of students at risk of violent behavior to appropriate

community-based services, including mental health services.

(13)  Alternative education programs provided for in Article

XIX-C.

(14)  Counseling services for students enrolled in

alternative education programs.

(d)  Grant applications shall contain information as the

office may require. The office shall conduct a thorough annual

evaluation of each program for which a grant under this section

is made.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.