PRINTER'S NO. 116
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
121
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY D. MILLER, STEPHENS, SCHLOSSBERG, A. DAVIS, RABB,
DeLUCA, SIMS, HILL-EVANS, PASHINSKI, KORTZ, McCLINTON AND
GILLEN, JANUARY 28, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 28, 2019
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 grounds and buildings, providing
for school police officers, school resource officers and
school security guards.
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 778.1. School Police Officers, School Resource
Officers and School Security Guards.--(a) This section shall
apply notwithstanding Articles XIII-B and XIII-C.
(b) Each school police officer, school resource officer, or
school security guard shall successfully complete training
designed to facilitate working with children and adolescents,
including those with mental health and behavioral health needs
due to a disability. The following apply:
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(1) Training shall be completed within one hundred twenty
(120) days of the individual's commission or placement with a
school district or on a school campus, or within one hundred
twenty (120) days of the adoption of the curriculum in clause
(2), whichever applies.
(2) The commission shall develop, adopt or otherwise make
available an appropriate training curriculum related
specifically to children and adolescents that includes the
following topics:
(i) Child and adolescent development and psychology.
(ii) Mental health, trauma and behavioral health needs of
children with disabilities, including crisis intervention
techniques especially suited to those children.
(iii) Positive behavioral interventions and supports,
conflict resolution techniques and restorative justice
practices.
(iv) De-escalation techniques and methods for limiting the
use of force, including the use of physical, mechanical and
chemical restraints.
(v) Emergency planning considerations and age-appropriate
safety instruction training, including for students with mental
health, disabilities or other behavioral health needs.
(3) The curriculum shall be made available within six months
of the effective date of this clause. Before adopting the
curriculum, the commission shall provide a thirty (30) day
period for public comment.
(4) The commission shall review the curriculum developed and
adopted under this section and update the subject matter as
needed at least once every three years.
(5) A school police officer, school resource officer or
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school security guard who has completed the Basic School
Resource Officer Course conducted by the National Association of
School Resource Officers within the last three years, or a
training course equivalent as accepted by the commission, shall
be considered to be in compliance with the training requirement
specified in this subsection.
(6) Each school police officer or school security guard
shall complete child and adolescent training under this
subsection every three years.
(c) Each school security guard who carries a firearm as a
requirement of employment as a school security guard shall
complete firearm recertification every two years.
(d) Every two years, each school security guard shall
complete first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated
external defibrillator training recertification.
(e) 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:
"Commission." The Municipal Police Officers Education
Training Commission.
"School police officer." As defined in section 1301-C.
"School resource officer." As defined in section 1301-C.
"School security guard." As defined in section 1301-C.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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