PRINTER'S NO. 103
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
120
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, KINSEY, SANCHEZ, MADDEN, GUENST, KAZEEM,
HOHENSTEIN, PROBST, KINKEAD AND HOWARD, MARCH 7, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, MARCH 7, 2023
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 school safety and security,
providing for COVID-19 pandemic trauma-informed education
grants for 2023-2024 school year; and making an
appropriation.
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 1319-B. COVID-19 pandemic trauma-informed education
grants for 2023-2024 school year.
(a) Legislative findings.--The General Assembly finds and
declares as follows:
(1) The COVID-19 pandemic inflicted trauma on many
students.
(2) It is necessary to provide instruction and mental
and behavioral health supports through trauma-informed
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approaches for the purpose of improving the social and
emotional well-being of students and fostering a nurturing
learning environment.
(b) Appropriation.--In addition to any other money
appropriated to the committee for grants under this article, the
sum of $50,000,000 is appropriated to the committee from the
General Fund to make grants under this section. The
appropriation under this subsection shall not lapse.
(c) Compliance and monitoring.--The committee shall monitor
grant recipients under this section to ensure appropriate use of
grant money and compliance with Federal guidelines and
regulations and the provisions of this section.
(d) Purpose of grants.--The committee shall provide grants
under this section to each qualifying school entity for the
specific purpose under section 1306-B(j)(20), (21) or (22).
(e) Amount of grants.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the amount
of a grant awarded to a qualifying school entity shall not be
less than $20,000.
(2) The committee may award an additional grant amount
to a qualifying school entity with a large student population
or a qualifying school entity with a high level of student
poverty in accordance with the guidelines developed under
subsection (h).
(f) Availability of applications.--The committee shall
notify and make applications available for grants under this
section to each school entity within 60 days of the effective
date of this section. The application requirements shall include
the school entity's contact information and specific purpose for
the grant under section 1306-B(j)(20), (21) or (22) and any
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other requirements specified by the committee in the guidelines
developed under subsection (h).
(g) Deadlines for applications.--A school entity must submit
an application for grant money under this section no later than
30 days after the committee makes the application available
under subsection (f).
(h) Guidelines.--The committee shall develop guidelines to
implement this section to ensure the appropriate use of grant
money.
(i) Definitions.--As used in this section, the term "school
entity" means a public school, charter school, area career and
technical school or nonpublic school. The term does not include
a cyber charter school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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