PRINTER'S NO. 2560
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2005
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY GREEN, KAZEEM, PROBST, KINSEY, PARKER, SANCHEZ,
STEELE, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND DALEY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 1, 2024
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,
providing for mental health check-ins.
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 a
section to read:
Section 1529. Mental Health Check-Ins.--(a) Beginning with
the 2024-2025 school year and each school year thereafter, each
school entity shall adopt a policy for daily mental health
check-ins at the beginning of each school day for students in
kindergarten through grade twelve. The policy shall include a
procedure for identifying and responding to students who through
their responses to the mental health check-ins may be
experiencing stress, anxiety or depression or who may be at risk
of suicide or self-harm.
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(b) The department shall develop a model mental health
check-in policy and make the policy available to each school
entity and, upon request, to a nonpublic school.
(c) 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:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Mental health check-in." An activity in which participants
are given the opportunity to convey, at a minimum, how they are
feeling in that moment.
"Nonpublic school." A nonpublic kindergarten, elementary
school or secondary school at which a resident of this
Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school
attendance requirements of Article XIII and which meets the
requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public
Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241) .
"School entity." A school district, charter school, regional
charter school, cyber charter school, area career and technical
school or intermediate unit.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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