HOUSE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 18 PRINTER'S NO. 852
No. 71 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, ORIE, KITCHEN, COSTA, BOSCOLA, RAFFERTY, FONTANA, PUNT, TARTAGLIONE, ERICKSON, O'PAKE, WASHINGTON, BROWNE, STACK AND C. WILLIAMS, JANUARY 29, 2007
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 17, 2007
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," further providing for Office for Safe 6 Schools; and requiring the establishment of policies relating 7 to bullying. 8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 9 hereby enacts as follows: 10 Section 1. Section 1302-A(c) of the act of March 10, 1949 11 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, 12 amended June 26, 1999 (P.L.394, No.36), is amended to read: 13 Section 1302-A. Office for Safe Schools.--* * * 14 (c) In addition to the powers and duties set forth under 15 subsection (a), the office is authorized to make targeted grants 16 to schools to fund programs which address school violence, 17 including, but not limited to, the following programs: 18 (1) Conflict resolution or dispute management. 19 (2) Peer helpers programs.
1 (3) Risk assessment, safety-related or violence prevention 2 curricula. 3 (4) Classroom management. 4 (5) Student codes of conduct. 5 (6) Training to undertake a districtwide assessment of risk 6 factors that increase the likelihood of problem behaviors among 7 students. 8 (7) Development and implementation of research-based 9 violence prevention programs that address risk factors to reduce 10 incidents of problem behaviors among students including, but not 11 limited to, bullying. 12 (8) Comprehensive, districtwide school safety and violence 13 prevention plans. 14 (9) Security planning, purchase of security-related 15 technology which may include metal detectors, protective 16 lighting, surveillance equipment, special emergency 17 communications equipment, electronic locksets, deadbolts and 18 theft control devices and training in the use of security- 19 related technology. Security planning and purchase of security- 20 related technology shall be based on safety needs identified by 21 the school entity's board of directors. 22 (10) Institution of student, staff and visitor 23 identification systems. 24 (11) Establishment or enhancement of school security 25 personnel, including school resource officers. 26 (12) Provision of specialized staff and student training 27 programs, including training for Student Assistance Program team 28 members in elementary, middle and high schools in the referral 29 of students at risk of violent behavior to appropriate 30 community-based services, including mental health services. 20070S0071B0852 - 2 -
1 (13) Alternative education programs provided for in Article 2 XIX-C. 3 (14) Counseling services for students enrolled in 4 alternative education programs. 5 * * * 6 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read: 7 Section 1303.1-A. Policy Relating to Bullying.--(a) No 8 later than June 30, 2007, each school entity shall adopt a 9 policy relating to bullying or amend the school entity's code of 10 student conduct required under 22 Pa. Code § 12.3(c) (relating 11 to school rules) to include provisions relating to bullying. The 12 policy or amendment to the code of student conduct shall 13 delineate discipline consequences for bullying and may provide 14 for prevention, intervention and education programs, provided 15 that no school entity shall be required to establish a new 16 policy under this section if one currently exists and reasonably 17 fulfills the requirements of this section. 18 (b) Each school entity shall distribute the policy relating 19 to bullying with the code of student conduct required under 22 20 Pa. Code § 12.3(c) and, shall make the policy available on its <-- 21 publicly accessible Internet website AND SHALL POST A COPY OF <-- 22 THE POLICY IN EACH CLASSROOM. EACH SCHOOL ENTITY SHALL ALSO 23 ENSURE THAT THE POLICY IS REVIEWED WITH STUDENTS AT LEAST TWICE 24 IN EACH SCHOOL YEAR. 25 (c) Each school entity shall review its policy every three 26 years and annually provide the office with a copy of its policy 27 relating to bullying, including information related to the 28 development and implementation of any bullying prevention, 29 intervention and education programs. The information required 30 under this subsection shall be attached to or made part of the 20070S0071B0852 - 3 -
1 annual report required under section 1303-A(b). 2 (d) For the purposes of this section, "bullying" shall have 3 the same meaning as it is given in the section related to 4 definitions in the annual report on school violence and weapon 5 possession that school entities are required to complete 6 pursuant to section 1303-A(b). 7 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. L8L24DMS/20070S0071B0852 - 4 -