Pennsylvania HB 1002: 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, providing for parental notification of certain incidents required.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1089
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1002
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, McNEILL,
OTTEN, GREINER, SANCHEZ, DONAHUE, SCHLOSSBERG, HOWARD,
STEELE, CERRATO, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND CONKLIN, MARCH 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 24, 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, providing for
parental notification of certain incidents required.
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 1314-A. Parental Notification of Certain Incidents
Required.--(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each
school entity shall adopt a policy on how to notify the parents
or legal guardians of each student who threatens suicide or is
involved in an incident of bullying, as defined in section
1303.1-A, inform each school entity employe and the parent or
legal guardian of each student enrolled in the school entity of
the policy and post the policy on the school entity's publicly
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accessible Internet website. The policy adopted by a school
entity under this subsection may be based upon the model policy
developed by the department under subsection (c). If a school
entity notifies a parent or legal guardian of an incident or
threat required to be reported, the school entity shall:
(1) Produce and maintain a record verifying that the parent
or legal guardian was notified of the incident or threat.
Records under this paragraph shall be exempt from access under
the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-
to-Know Law.
(2) Provide the parent or legal guardian with suicide
prevention materials and information, which shall include
information on ways to limit the student's access to fatal
means, including a firearm or medication.
(b) A school entity shall:
(1) Provide a student with a copy of a record maintained
under subsection (a) that relates to the student if the student
requests a copy of the record.
(2) Expunge a school record maintained under subsection (a)
that relates to the student if the student has graduated from
high school and requests that the record be expunged.
(c) The department shall:
(1) Develop a model policy on how to notify the parents or
legal guardians of a student that the student has threatened
suicide or been involved in an incident of bullying and make the
policy available to all school entities and, upon request, to
nonpublic schools. The department may develop the model policy
in consultation with a youth suicide prevention organization
operating in this Commonwealth.
(2) Compile, develop and post on the department's publicly
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accessible Internet website resources and age-appropriate
educational materials on youth suicide awareness and prevention,
including ways to limit a student's access to fatal means,
including firearms and medication. The department shall make the
resources and education materials available to all school
entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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