Pennsylvania HB 1253: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for definitions and for student supports; and, in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for duties of committee, for standardized protocols and for reporting and memorandum of understanding.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1399
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1253
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, MADDEN, PIELLI, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, RABB,
KAZEEM, MERSKI, HILL-EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, INGLIS,
D. WILLIAMS, K.HARRIS, STEELE, CERRATO, GREEN AND CIRESI,
APRIL 17, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 17, 2025
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 student supports, further
providing for definitions and for student supports; and, in
school safety and security, further providing for
definitions, for duties of committee, for standardized
protocols and for reporting and memorandum of understanding.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "chief school administrator"
and "school property" in section 1301-A of the act of March 10,
1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
are amended to read:
Section 1301-A. Definitions.--As used in this article,
"Chief school administrator" shall mean the superintendent of
a public school district, superintendent of an area career and
technical school, executive director of an intermediate unit
[or], chief executive officer of a charter school or governing
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body of a nonpublic school.
* * *
"School property" shall mean any public or nonpublic school
grounds, any school-sponsored activity or any conveyance
providing transportation to a school entity, nonpublic school or
school-sponsored activity.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1302-A(b)(5) of the act is amended to
read:
Section 1302-A. Student Supports.--* * *
(b) The Department of Education shall have the power and
duty to implement the following:
* * *
(5) To develop in collaboration and coordination with the
School Safety and Security Committee established under section
1302-B forms to be used by school entities, nonpublic schools
and police departments for reporting incidents involving acts of
violence and possession of weapons on school property. The forms
shall be reviewed on a biennial basis and revised when
necessary.
* * *
Section 3. The definition of "chief school administrator" in
section 1301-B of the act is amended to read:
Section 1301-B. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meaning given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Chief school administrator." [The superintendent of a
public school district, superintendent of an area career and
technical school, executive director of an intermediate unit or
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chief executive officer of a charter school.] As defined in
section 1301-A.
* * *
Section 4. Sections 1302.1-B(6) and (7), 1306.2-B(b)(1) and
(2) and 1319-B(b)(3), (c) introductory paragraph, (d)
introductory paragraph, (e) and (f) of the act are amended to
read:
Section 1302.1-B. Duties of committee.
The committee shall advance practices to improve the safety
and security of school entities within this Commonwealth,
including developing policies and providing resources, training,
guidance and assistance to schools and their partners. In
addition to other duties given to the committee under this
article, the committee shall have the following powers and
duties:
* * *
(6) In collaboration and coordination with the
department, to verify that each school entity and nonpublic
school has complied with reporting and memorandum of
understanding requirements under section 1319-B.
(7) In collaboration and coordination with the
department, to publish and post on the commission's publicly
accessible Internet website a school safety annual report no
later than November 1 of each calendar year outlining all
incidents required to be reported under section 1319-B and
school entities and nonpublic schools that failed to submit a
report under section 1319-B.
* * *
Section 1306.2-B. Standardized protocols.
* * *
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(b) Regulations.--No later than three years after the
effective date of this section, the committee shall promulgate
final-omitted regulations under the act of June 25, 1982
(P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act, in
consultation with the department, necessary to implement this
article. The regulations shall include the following:
(1) A model memorandum of understanding between school
entities or nonpublic schools and law enforcement. The model
memorandum of understanding shall be reviewed at least once
every three years and revised where necessary. The committee
may revise the model memorandum of understanding by
transmitting a notice to