AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," providing for youth suicide awareness
6and prevention training.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

9Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11section to read:

12Section 1205.7. Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention
13Training.--(a) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the
14professional development plan submitted by each school entity to
15the secretary for approval pursuant to section 1205.1 shall
16include four (4) hours of training in youth suicide awareness
17and prevention every five (5) years for professional educators

1in school buildings serving students in grade six (6), seven
2(7), eight (8), nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11) or twelve (12).
3Training under this subsection may be used to satisfy a
4professional educator's continuing professional education
5requirement under section 1205.2.

6(b) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective
7date of this section, the Department of Education, in
8consultation with the Department of Health, shall develop and
9make available on its publicly accessible Internet website
10recommended guidelines and educational materials for the
11training required under subsection (a), which may include
12materials which are already publicly available. In providing the
13training required under subsection (a), a school entity shall
14not be required to use the guidelines and materials developed
15and made available by the Department of Education.

16(c) For purposes of this section, "school entity" shall mean
17a school district, joint school district, charter school,
18regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit
19or area vocational-technical school.

20Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013, or
21immediately, whichever is later.