PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2811
PRINTER'S NO. 3017
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
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 25, 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 MENTAL 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 MENTAL Health Awareness
Education.--(a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 2023-2024 school
year, each school entity may :
(1) Develop DEVELOP an age-appropriate behavioral MENTAL
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
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identified by the department under subsection (b)(1) (B) .
(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 2023 , in consultation with
at least one organization that addresses behavioral MENTAL
health issues, the department shall :
(1) Develop DEVELOP or identify a model behavioral
MENTAL 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:
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"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"MENTAL HEALTH." AN INDIVIDUAL'S CONDITION WITH REGARD TO
THE INDIVIDUAL'S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING,
INCLUDING ANXIETY, STRESS, TRAUMA OR OTHER MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL
IMPAIRMENTS.
"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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