PRINTER'S NO. 3693
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2493
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, BARRAR, BOBACK, DeLUCA, MURT, STEPHENS
AND VAZQUEZ, JUNE 14, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 14, 2018
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," providing for threat assessment.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIII-B
THREAT ASSESSMENT
Section 1301-B. Threat assessment teams and oversight
committees in public school entities.
(a) Adoption of policies.--Beginning in the 2018-2019 school
year, each governing authority shall adopt policies for the
establishment of threat assessment teams, including the
assessment of and intervention with students whose behavior may
pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students
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consistent with the model policies developed by the Office for
Safe Schools. The policies shall include procedures for
referrals to community services boards or health care providers
for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate.
(b) Committee.--The chief school administrator may establish
a committee charged with oversight of the threat assessment
teams operating within the public school entity, which may be an
existing committee. The committee shall include individuals with
expertise in human resources, education, school administration,
mental health and law enforcement.
(c) Threat assessment team.--Beginning in the 2019-2020
school year, each chief school administrator shall establish,
for each school, a threat assessment team that shall include
persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school
administration and law enforcement. Threat assessment teams may
be established to serve one or more schools as determined by the
chief school administrator. Each team shall:
(1) Provide guidance to students, faculty and staff
regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior
that may represent a threat to the community, the school or
students.
(2) Identify members of the school community to whom
threatening behavior should be reported.
(3) Implement policies adopted by the governing
authority under subsection (a).
(d) Report of threat.--Upon a preliminary determination that
a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to the
student or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately
report its determination to the chief school administrator or
his designee. The chief school administrator or his designee
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shall immediately attempt to notify the student's parent or
legal guardian. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude school
entity personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent
threat.
(e) Report.--Each threat assessment team established under
this section shall report quantitative data on its activities
according to guidance developed by the Pennsylvania Commission
on Crime and Delinquency.
(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Governing authority." A local board of school directors, or
the equivalent, of a public school entity.
"Public school entity." A school district, intermediate
unit, area vocational-technical school, charter school, regional
charter school or cyber charter school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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