PRINTER'S NO. 982
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
973
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY KINSEY, BULLOCK, ROTHMAN, SANCHEZ, DELLOSO,
ISAACSON, BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, CONKLIN, GALLOWAY, FREEMAN,
DeLUCA, RYAN, DALEY, DEASY, A. DAVIS, KIRKLAND, D. WILLIAMS,
SCHWEYER, ROZZI AND KINKEAD, MARCH 18, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 18, 2021
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 bullying prevention 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. Bullying Prevention Education.--(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1303.1-A, beginning
with the 2021-2022 school year, each school entity shall:
(1) Develop an age-appropriate bullying prevention 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 by the department under subsection
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(b)(1).
(2) Include training in bullying prevention in the
professional development plan submitted by the school entity to
the secretary for approval under section 1205.1. Training under
this paragraph may be used to satisfy a professional educator's
continuing professional education requirement under section
1205.2. A school entity may use the materials made available by
the department under subsection (b)(2) to conduct the training.
(b) The department, in consultation with at least one
organization addressing bullying prevention, shall:
(1) Develop a model bullying prevention education
curriculum, which may include materials already publicly
available, and make the curriculum available to 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:
"Bullying." As defined in section 1303.1-A.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
act and that meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
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"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 vocational-technical school.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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