PRINTER'S NO. 2643
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1748
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY MAHONEY, THOMAS, BISHOP, BURNS, TAYLOR, ROZZI,
READSHAW, KILLION, MILLARD, McNEILL, V. BROWN, O'BRIEN,
KOTIK, YOUNGBLOOD, MURT, GROVE, COHEN, HARHAI, D. COSTA AND
DEAN, DECEMBER 9, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, DECEMBER 9, 2015
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," in terms and courses of study,
further providing for subjects of instruction and Flag Code
and for alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1511 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
amended July 31, 1968 (P.L.1020, No.301), is amended to read:
Section 1511. Subjects of Instruction; Flag Code.--In every
elementary public and private school, established and maintained
in this Commonwealth, the following subjects shall be taught, in
the English language and from English texts: English, including
spelling, reading and writing, arithmetic, geography, the
history of the United States and of Pennsylvania, civics,
including loyalty to the State and National Government, safety
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education, and the humane treatment of birds and animals,
health, including physical education, and physiology, alcohol,
chemical and tobacco abuse prevention as provided under section
1547, music and art. Other subjects shall be taught in the
public elementary schools and also in the public high schools as
may be prescribed by the standards of the State Board of
Education. All such subjects, except foreign languages, shall be
taught in the English language and from English texts: Provided,
however, That, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the teaching of subjects in a language other than
English may be permitted as part of a sequence in foreign
language study or as part of a bilingual education program if
the teaching personnel are properly certified in the subject
fields. Each school district shall provide and distribute to
each pupil, enrolled in the eighth grade of the public schools,
one illustrated copy of the National Flag Code, and shall, from
time to time, make available such copies as are necessary for
replacements from year to year. It shall be the duty of each
teacher in the public schools to make such use of the code as
may, from time to time, seem proper.
Section 2. Section 1547(a) of the act, amended December 19,
1990 (P.L.1362, No.211), is amended and the section is amended
by adding subsections to read:
Section 1547. Alcohol, Chemical and Tobacco Abuse Program.--
(a) Beginning with school year 1991-1992 and each year
thereafter, each public school student shall receive mandatory
instruction in alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse in every year
in every grade from kindergarten through grade twelve. [The]
Except as otherwise provided under subsection (a.1), the
instruction shall be integrated within the health course of
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study required in accordance with the State Board of Education
regulations. In grades where health is offered, instruction may
also be integrated into other appropriate courses of study. In
grades where health is not offered, instruction shall be
integrated into an appropriate curriculum requirement as listed
in 22 Pa. Code ยง 5.4(b).
(1) This instruction:
(i) Shall be age appropriate.
(ii) Shall be sequential in method of study.
(iii) Shall discourage the use of alcohol, tobacco and
controlled substances.
(iv) Shall communicate that the use of illicit drugs and the
improper use of legally obtained drugs is wrong.
(2) School districts may utilize any appropriate public or
private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
and implementing this program of instruction. The Department of
Health, Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, shall make
available information about appropriate curriculum materials
upon request of a school district. In developing its alcohol,
chemical and tobacco abuse instructional program, each school
district shall consult with the single county authority
designated by the Department of Health to provide drug and
alcohol services in the school district's area.
(a.1) Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year and each
school year thereafter, in grades five through twelve, mandatory
instruction in alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse shall be a
separate course of study from the health course of study.
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(e.1) Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, each school
district shall provide, as part of its in-service training,
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programs for all instructors to recognize a student is using or
abusing alcohol, drugs, tobacco or dangerous controlled
substances and the responsibilities of an instructor who
suspects a student is using or abusing alcohol, drugs, tobacco
or dangerous controlled substances. To comply with this
requirement, a school district may utilize the programs made
available by the Department of Education or use other
alternative programs.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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