Pennsylvania HB 339: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for mental health check-ins.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 294
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 339
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GREEN, GIRAL, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, PARKER,
BELLMON AND FLEMING, JANUARY 27, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 27, 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 terms and courses of study,
providing for mental health check-ins.
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. Mental Health Check-Ins.--(a) Beginning with
the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, a
school entity shall adopt a policy for daily mental health
check-ins at the beginning of each school day for students in
kindergarten through grade twelve. The policy shall include a
procedure for identifying and responding to students who:
(1) through their responses to the mental health check-ins,
may be experiencing stress, anxiety or depression; or
(2) may be at risk of suicide or self-harm.
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(b) The department shall develop a model mental health
check-in policy and make the policy available to each school
entity and, upon request, to a nonpublic school.
(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:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Mental health check-in." An activity in which participants
are given the opportunity to convey, at a minimum, their
feelings in that moment.
"Nonpublic school." A nonpublic kindergarten, elementary
school or secondary school at which a resident of this
Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school
attendance requirements of Article XIII and which meets the
requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public
Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241) .
"School entity." A school district, charter school, regional
charter school, cyber charter school, area career and technical
school or intermediate unit.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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