Pennsylvania HB 2698: 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, further providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention and providing for violence prevention and social isolation awareness.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3777
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2698
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MUNROE, DONAHUE, SCHLOSSBERG, DOUGHERTY, HILL-
EVANS, SANCHEZ, HANBIDGE, KAZEEM, FREEMAN, NEILSON, INGLIS,
BOROWSKI, BOYD, MAYES, MADDEN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND CURRY,
JULY 13, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 15, 2026
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,
further providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention
and providing for violence prevention and social isolation
awareness.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1526 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 1526. Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention.--* * *
(c.1) The following shall apply to student suicide awareness
and prevention education:
(1) Beginning with the first school year that commences
within twenty-four (24) months of the effective date of this
subsection, each school entity serving students in grades six
through twelve shall provide students at least one (1) hour or
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one (1) standard class period of evidence-based, age-appropriate
suicide awareness and prevention education each school year. The
following shall apply:
(i) A school entity may deliver the education in person or
by electronic means.
(ii) A school entity may use a combined program that
satisfies this subsection and section 1526.1(a) to meet the
requirement under this paragraph.
(2) Within one (1) year of the effective date of this
subsection, the department shall develop a list of evidence-
based, age-appropriate educational materials, including no-cost
programming, if any, to fulfill the requirements of this
subsection. At a minimum, the educational materials or
curriculum shall:
(i) teach students how to identify signs and signals of
depression, suicide risk and self-injury in themselves and their
peers;
(ii) emphasize the importance of seeking help for themselves
and their peers; and
(iii) describe the process for seeking help, including how
and where to report concerns and the resources available within
the school entity and the community.
(3) The department shall post the list under paragraph (2)
on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(4) As used in this subsection, the term "evidence-based"
shall have the meaning given to it in section 1526.1(e).
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1526.1. Violence Prevention and Social Isolation
Awareness.--(a) The following shall apply to student safety and
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violence prevention education:
(1) Beginning with the first school year that commences
within twenty-four (24) months of the effective date of this
section, each school entity serving students in grades six
through twelve shall provide students at least one (1) hour or
one (1) standard class period of evidence-based, age-appropriate
youth violence prevention education each school year. The
following shall apply:
(i) A school entity may deliver the education in person or
by electronic means.
(ii) A school entity may use a combined program that
satisfies this subsection and section 1526(c.1) to meet the
requirement under this paragraph.
(2) Within one (1) year of the effective date of this
section, the department shall develop a list of evidence-based,
age-appropriate educational materials, including no-cost
programming, if any, to fulfill the requirements of this
subsection. At a minimum, the educational materials or
curriculum shall teach students:
(i) how to identify observable warning signs and signals of
an individual whose threatening or at-risk behavior may present
a threat to the individual or others;
(ii) the importance of taking threats seriously and seeking
help; and
(iii) the steps for reporting dangerous, violent,
threatening, harmful or potentially harmful activity, including
through the Safe2Say Something Program.
(3) The department shall post the list under paragraph (2)
on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(b) The following shall apply to student social isolation
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awareness education:
(1) Beginning with the first school year that commences
within twenty-four (24) months of the effective date of this
section, each school entity serving students in kindergarten
through grade twelve shall provide students at least one (1)
hour or one (1) standard class period of evidence-based, age-
appropriate social