PRINTER'S NO.  432

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

449

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY VANCE, ERICKSON, WARD, BROWNE, FONTANA, SOLOBAY, RAFFERTY, MENSCH, BOSCOLA, WAUGH, FERLO AND LEACH, FEBRUARY 7, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO AGING AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 7, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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

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act relating to the public school system, including certain

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provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

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schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

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laws relating thereto," providing for child abuse recognition

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and reporting training.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

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as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a

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section to read:

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Section 1205.6.  Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting

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Training Program.--(a)  The Department of Public Welfare, in

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consultation with the Department of Education, shall establish a

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child abuse recognition and reporting program.

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(b)  Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child

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protective services), the Department of Public Welfare shall:

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(1)  Administer the program to mandated reporters employed by

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or under contract with a school entity.

 


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(2)  Include training in child abuse recognition and

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reporting requirements.

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(3)  Provide opportunities to complete the training through

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the Internet or other distance communication systems.

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(c)  Individuals required to take the course under subsection

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(b) shall complete a minimum of three (3) hours of training

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every five (5) years.

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(d)  Professional educators who complete the training

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required in this section shall receive credit towards the

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continuing professional education requirements under section

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1205.2.

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(e)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

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words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this

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subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Professional educator" shall mean the same as that term is

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defined in section 1205.2(o).

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"School entity" shall mean a school district, intermediate

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unit, joint school district, area vocational-technical school,

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charter school, cyber charter school and private school.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 180 days.

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