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," in terms and courses of study,
6providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention and for 
7child exploitation awareness education.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections
12to read:

<-13Section 1526. Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention.--(a) A 
14school entity may adopt a youth suicide awareness and prevention 
15policy, which may, but shall not be required to, be based upon 
16the model policy developed by the department under subsection
 

1(d)(1). A school entity that adopts a youth suicide awareness 
2and prevention policy shall distribute the policy to all school 
3entity employes and independent contractors and to the parent or 
4legal guardian of each student enrolled in the school entity and 
5shall post the policy on the school entity's publicly accessible 
6Internet website.

7(b) A school entity may develop an age-appropriate youth
8suicide awareness and prevention education program and may
9incorporate the program into the school entity's existing
10curriculum for students in grade six through grade twelve. In
11developing the program, the school entity may use the model
12curriculum developed by the department under subsection (d)(2).

13(c) (1) Beginning with the 2015-2016 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
18assigned to provide instruction to students in grade six, seven,
19eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve. Training under this
20subsection may be used to satisfy a professional educator's
21continuing professional education requirement under section
221205.2.

23(2) A school entity that offers its students a youth suicide
24awareness and prevention education program under subsection (b)
25shall ensure that the professional development plan submitted
26under paragraph (1) includes training in the school entity's
27youth suicide awareness and prevention education program.

28(3) A school entity may provide youth suicide awareness and
29prevention education to its other employes and independent
30contractors, in addition to its professional employes.

1(d) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective
2date of this section, the department, in consultation with a
3youth suicide prevention organization operating in this
4Commonwealth, shall do all of the following:

5(1) Develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention
6policy and post the model policy on its publicly accessible
7Internet website. The model policy shall include the following:

8(i) A protocol for administering youth suicide awareness and
9prevention education to staff and students.

10(ii) A protocol that identifies:

11(A) Methods of prevention, including procedures for early
12identification and referral of students at risk of suicide.

13(B) Methods of intervention, including procedures that
14address an emotional or mental health safety plan for students
15identified as being at increased risk of suicide.

16(C) Methods of responding to a suicide or suicide attempt by
17a student or employe of the school entity.

18(D) Reporting procedures.

19(E) Recommended resources on youth suicide and youth suicide
20awareness and prevention programs, including contact information
21for such programs.

22(2) Develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention
23curriculum and make the model curriculum available to all school
24entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.

25(3) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
26Internet website recommended guidelines and educational
27materials for the training required under subsection (c), which
28may include materials which are already publicly available. In
29providing the training required under subsection (c), a school
30entity shall not be required to use the guidelines and materials

1developed and made available by the department.

2(e) (1) The State board shall conduct a study regarding the
3manner in which youth suicide awareness and prevention education
4is offered by school entities in this Commonwealth.

5(2) In developing the study required under this subsection,
6the State board shall consult with a youth suicide prevention
7organization operating in this Commonwealth.

8(3) In conducting the study required under this subsection,
9the State board shall request that each school entity provide
10the State board with information concerning whether the school
11entity offers such instruction and the manner in which such
12instruction is offered. Each school entity shall provide the
13information to the State board in response to a request under
14this paragraph.

15(4) Following the 2016-2017 school year, but not later than
16November 30, 2017, the State board shall issue a report to the
17Governor, the secretary, the chairman and minority chairman of
18the Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and
19minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of
20Representatives addressing the following:

21(i) The number of school entities adopting a youth suicide
22awareness and prevention policy.

23(ii) The number of school entities adopting the model youth
24suicide awareness and prevention policy developed by the
25department under subsection (d)(1).

26(iii) The number of school entities offering instruction in
27youth suicide awareness and prevention.

28(iv) The number of school entities using the model youth
29suicide awareness and prevention curriculum developed and made
30available by the department pursuant to subsection (d)(2).

1(v) The number of school entities using the recommended
2guidelines and educational materials compiled and developed by
3the department under subsection (d)(3) for the training required
4under subsection (c).

5(vi) A description of the manner in which school entities
6are offering instruction in youth suicide awareness and
7prevention, including the number of hours of instruction
8offered, the grade levels at which such instruction is offered
9and the courses within which such instruction is integrated.

10(vii) Recommendations for improvements to the offering of
11instruction in youth suicide awareness and prevention, including
12recommended legislation.

13(f) For purposes of this section, the following words and
14phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
15unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

16"Department." The Department of Education of the
17Commonwealth.

18"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
19entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
20fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
21act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
22Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

23"Professional educator." The term shall have the meaning
24given to it in section 1205.2(o).

25"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
26charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
27intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.

28"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

29"State board." The State Board of Education.

30Section 1527. Child Exploitation Awareness Education.--(a)

1Each school entity may develop an age-appropriate child
2exploitation awareness education program and may incorporate the
3program into the school entity's existing curriculum for
4students in kindergarten through grade eight. In developing the
5program, the school entity may use the model guidelines and
6educational materials made available by the department pursuant
7to subsection (c)(1) and (2).

8(b) (1) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the
9professional development plan submitted by each school entity to
10the secretary for approval pursuant to section 1205.1 shall
11include four (4) hours of training in child exploitation
12awareness every five (5) years for professional educators
13assigned to provide instruction to students in kindergarten or
14in grade one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight.
15Training under this subsection may be used to satisfy a
16professional educator's continuing professional education
17requirement under section 1205.2.

18(2) A school entity that incorporates child exploitation
19awareness education into its curriculum under subsection (a)
20shall ensure that the professional development plan submitted
21under paragraph (1) includes training in the school entity's
22child exploitation awareness education program.

23(3) A school entity may provide child exploitation awareness
24training to its other employes and independent contractors, in
25addition to its professional employes.

26(c) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective
27date of this section, the department, through its Office for
28Safe Schools and in consultation with at least one organization
29addressing child exploitation, shall do all of the following:

30(1) Develop and post on its publicly accessible Internet

1website model guidelines that school entities may use in
2developing an education program under subsection (a).

3(2) Compile or develop age-appropriate educational materials
4regarding child exploitation awareness, which may include
5educational materials that are already publicly available, and
6make the materials available to school entities and, upon
7request, to nonpublic schools.

8(3) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
9Internet website recommended guidelines and educational
10materials for the training required under subsection (b), which
11may include materials which are already publicly available. In
12providing the training required under subsection (b), a school
13entity shall not be required to use the guidelines and materials
14developed and made available by the department.

15(d) (1) The State board shall conduct a study regarding the
16manner in which instruction in child exploitation awareness is
17offered by school entities in this Commonwealth.

18(2) In developing the study required under this subsection,
19the State board shall consult with at least one organization
20addressing child exploitation.

21(3) In conducting the study required under this subsection,
22the State board shall request that each school entity provide
23the State board with information concerning whether the school
24entity offers such instruction and the manner in which such
25instruction is offered. Each school entity shall provide the
26information to the State board in response to a request under
27this paragraph.

28(4) Following the 2016-2017 school year, but not later than
29November 30, 2017, the State board shall issue a report to the
30Governor, the secretary, the chairman and minority chairman of

1the Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and
2minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of
3Representatives addressing the following:

4(i) The number of school entities offering instruction in
5child exploitation awareness.

6(ii) The number of school entities using the model
7guidelines and educational materials made available by the
8department pursuant to subsection (c)(1) and (2).

9(iii) The number of school entities using the recommended
10guidelines and educational materials compiled and developed by
11the department under subsection (c)(3) for the training required
12under subsection (b).

13(iv) A description of the manner in which school entities
14are offering instruction in child exploitation awareness,
15including the number of hours of instruction offered, the grade
16levels at which such instruction is offered and the courses
17within which such instruction is integrated.

18(v) Recommendations for improvements to the offering of
19instruction in child exploitation awareness, including
20recommended legislation.

21(e) For purposes of this section, the following words and
22phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
23unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

24"Child exploitation." The term includes child abduction and
25sexual abuse or exploitation.

26"Child exploitation awareness education." The term may
27include, but need not be limited to, defining child
28exploitation, recognizing the types of child exploitation,
29creating awareness of warning signs of child exploitation and
30providing students with avoidance strategies.

1"Department." The Department of Education of the
2Commonwealth.

3"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
4entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
5fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
6act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
7Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

8"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
9charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school or
10intermediate unit.

11"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

12"Sexual abuse or exploitation." The term shall have the
13meaning given to it under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303 (relating to
14definitions).

15"State board." The State Board of Education.

16Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014, or
17immediately, whichever is later.

<-18Section 1526. Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention.--(a)
19Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school entity
20shall:

21(1) Adopt an age-appropriate youth suicide awareness and
22prevention policy consistent with subsection (c), inform each
23school entity employe and the parent or legal guardian of each
24student enrolled in the school entity of such policy and post
25such policy on the school entity's publicly accessible Internet
26website. The policy adopted by a school entity under this
27paragraph may be based upon the model policy developed by the
28department under subsection (b)(1).

29(2) Include in the professional development plan submitted
30by the school entity to the secretary for approval pursuant to

1section 1205.1 four (4) hours of training in youth suicide
2awareness and prevention every five (5) years for professional
3educators in school buildings serving students in grades six 
4through twelve. Training under this paragraph may be used to
5satisfy a professional educator's continuing professional
6education requirement under section 1205.2. A school entity may
7use the materials made available by the department under
8subsection (b)(2) to conduct such training.

9(b) The department shall:

10(1) In consultation with a youth suicide prevention
11organization operating in this Commonwealth, develop a model
12youth suicide awareness and prevention policy which shall be
13consistent with subsection (c).

14(2) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
15Internet website the following, which may include materials
16already publicly available:

17(i) Recommended guidelines and educational materials for the
18training required under subsection (a)(2).

19(ii) Recommended resources and age-appropriate educational
20materials on youth suicide awareness and prevention.

21(3) Develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention
22curriculum and make such curriculum available to all school
23entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools. A school
24entity may incorporate such curriculum into its existing
25instructional program pursuant to the school entity's youth
26suicide awareness and prevention policy.

27(c) The model policy developed by the department under
28subsection (b)(1), and any policy adopted by a school entity
29under subsection (a)(1), shall include the following:

30(1) A statement on youth suicide awareness and prevention.

1(2) Protocols for administering youth suicide awareness and
2prevention education to staff and students.

3(3) Methods of prevention, including procedures for early
4identification and referral of students at risk of suicide.

5(4) Methods of intervention, including procedures that
6address an emotional or mental health safety plan for students
7identified as being at increased risk of suicide.

8(5) Methods of responding to a student or staff suicide or
9suicide attempt.

10(6) Reporting procedures.

11(7) Recommended resources on youth suicide awareness and
12prevention programs, including current contact information for
13such programs.

14(d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
15shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
16the context clearly indicates otherwise:

17"Department." The Department of Education of the
18Commonwealth.

19"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
20entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
21fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
22act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
23Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

24"Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).

25"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
26charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
27intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.

28"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

29Section 1527. Child Exploitation Awareness Education.--(a)
30Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school entity

1may:

2(1) Develop an age-appropriate child exploitation awareness
3education program and incorporate such program into the school
4entity's existing curriculum for students in kindergarten
5through grade eight. In developing the program, the school
6entity may use the model curriculum developed by the department
7under subsection (b)(2).

8(2) Include training in child exploitation awareness in the
9professional development plan submitted by the school entity to
10the secretary for approval pursuant to section 1205.1; provided
11that a school entity shall provide four (4) hours of such
12training every five (5) years for professional educators
13assigned to teach courses into which child exploitation
14awareness education has been incorporated under paragraph (1).
15Training under this paragraph may be used to satisfy a
16professional educator's continuing professional education
17requirement under section 1205.2. A school entity may use the
18materials made available by the department under subsection (b)
19(1) to conduct such training.

20(b) The department, in consultation with at least one 
21organization addressing child exploitation, shall:

22(1) Develop a model child exploitation awareness curriculum,
23which may include materials already publicly available, and make
24such curriculum available to all school entities and, upon
25request, to nonpublic schools.

26(2) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
27Internet website recommended guidelines and educational
28materials for the training provided for under subsection (a)(2),
29which may include materials already publicly available.

30(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases

1shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
2the context clearly indicates otherwise:

3"Department." The Department of Education of the
4Commonwealth.

5"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
6entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
7fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
8act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
9Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).

10"Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).

11"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
12charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
13intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.

14"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

15Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.