Pennsylvania HB 460: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for child abuse recognition and reporting training; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for child abuse awareness and prevention.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 444 PRINTER'S NO. 2860
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 460
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, MAYES, PIELLI, MALAGARI, GIRAL, HOHENSTEIN,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, STEELE, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, KHAN, SANCHEZ,
FLEMING, OTTEN, KENYATTA, DEASY, CERRATO, GREEN, HANBIDGE,
T. DAVIS AND K. HARRIS, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FEBRUARY 3, 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 certification of teachers, further
providing for child abuse recognition and reporting training;
and, in terms and courses of study, providing for child abuse
awareness and prevention.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1205.6(a)(3) and (4) of the act of March
10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of
1949, are amended and paragraph (1) is amended by adding a
subparagraph to read:
SECTION 1. SECTION 1205.6(A)(4) OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949
(P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, IS
AMENDED AND PARAGRAPH (1) IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBPARAGRAPH TO
READ:
Section 1205.6. Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting
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Training.--(a) School entities and independent contractors of
school entities shall provide their employes who have direct
contact with children with mandatory training on child abuse
recognition and reporting. The following apply:
(1) Training shall address, but shall not be limited to, the
following topics:
* * *
(v) Child abuse awareness and prevention as described in
section 1529.
* * *
(3) Employes shall complete a minimum of [three (3)] four
(4) hours of training every five (5) years.
(4) Employes required to undergo continuing professional
education under section 1205.2 shall receive credit toward their
continuing professional education requirements if the training
program has been approved by the Department of Education in
consultation with the Department of [Public Welfare] Human
Services.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1529. Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention.--(a)
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each school entity
shall develop an age-appropriate child abuse awareness and
prevention education program and incorporate the program into
the school entity's existing curriculum for students in
kindergarten through grade twelve. In developing the program,
the school entity shall use the model curriculum developed by
the department under subsection (b)(1).
(b) The department, in consultation with the Department of
Human Services and at least one organization addressing child
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abuse, shall:
(1) Develop a model child abuse awareness and prevention
curriculum, which may include materials already publicly
available, and make the curriculum available to all school
entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.
(2) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
Internet website recommended guidelines and educational
materials regarding child abuse awareness and prevention, which
may include materials already publicly available and which may
be used for the purposes of the training specified under section
1205.6(a)(1)(v).
SECTION 1529. CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION.--(A)
BEGINNING WITH THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH SCHOOL ENTITY,
NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AND PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOL SHALL OFFER AN AGE-
APPROPRIATE, EVIDENCE-BASED CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HEALTH STANDARDS
PROMULGATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM SHALL
INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR
EXPLOITATION. IN DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM, EACH SCHOOL ENTITY,
NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AND PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOL MAY USE THE
GUIDELINES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS COMPILED BY THE DEPARTMENT
UNDER SUBSECTION (B).
(B) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES AND AT LEAST ONE ORGANIZATION ADDRESSING CHILD
ABUSE, SHALL COMPILE, DEVELOP AND POST ON ITS PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES AND
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND
PREVENTION, INCLUDING THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR
EXPLOITATION, WHICH MAY INCLUDE MATERIALS ALREADY PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE AND WHICH MAY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE TRAINING
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SPECIFIED UNDER SECTION 1205.6(A)(1)(V).
(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 ind