PRINTER'S NO. 2811
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2023
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY KAUFER, SCHLOSSBERG, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, PICKETT
AND R. BROWN, MARCH 9, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 9, 2022
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 behavioral health awareness education.
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. Behavioral Health Awareness Education.--(a)
Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school entity
may:
(1) Develop an age-appropriate behavioral health
education program and incorporate the program into the school
entity's existing curriculum for students in kindergarten
through grade twelve. In developing the program, the school
entity may use the model curriculum developed or identified
by the department under subsection (b)(1).
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(2) Include training in behavioral health and how to
identify signs of behavioral health issues in the
professional development plan submitted by the school entity
to the secretary for approval under section 1205.1. The
following apply:
(i) A school entity may provide four (4) hours of
training every five (5) years for professional educators.
(ii) Training under this paragraph may be used to
satisfy a professional educator's continuing professional
education requirement under section 1205.2.
(iii) A school entity may use the materials made
available by the department under subsection (b)(1) to
conduct the training.
(b) No later than June 30, 2022, in consultation with at
least one organization that addresses behavioral health issues,
the department shall:
(1) Develop or identify a model behavioral health
curriculum, which may include materials already publicly
available, and shall make the curriculum available to all
school entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.
(2) Compile, develop and post on the department's
publicly accessible Internet website recommended guidelines
and educational materials for the training provided for under
subsection (a)(2), which may include materials already
publicly available.
(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.
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"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school located in this
Commonwealth, other than a school entity, where a resident of
this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school
attendance requirements of this act and which meets the
applicable requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).
"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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