Pennsylvania HB 2152: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for secondary school start times.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2779 PRINTER'S NO. 2879
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2152
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY COOPER, BRIGGS, FREEMAN, M. MACKENZIE, PROBST,
MIHALEK, SANCHEZ, DIAMOND, RABB, FLEMING, BRENNAN, NEILSON,
BURGOS, BOROWSKI, MADDEN, ROWE, SOLOMON, SMITH-WADE-EL,
KOZAK, ORTITAY, BOYD, FRIEL, O'MARA, FRANKEL, TAKAC, WARREN,
HARKINS, RIVERA AND GREEN, JANUARY 21, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 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 school safety and security,
further providing for School Safety and Security Grant
Program; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for
delaying secondary school start times.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1306-B(j) 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 paragraph to read:
Section 1306-B. School Safety and Security Grant Program.
* * *
(j) Specific purposes.--The committee shall provide grants
to school entities for programs that address school mental
health and safety and security, including:
* * *
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(33) Costs associated with the planning, implementation
or operation of a later school start time. A school entity
that applies for funding under this paragraph must adopt a
policy under section 1504.1 relating to TO IMPLEMENT an
instructional day start time no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for
THAT OCCURS AT LEAST 15 MINUTES LATER THAN THE CURRENT START
TIME FOR ITS secondary schools.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1504.1. Delaying Secondary School Start Times.--(a)
The governing body of a school entity may adopt a policy to
implement an instructional day start time at the secondary
school level to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. THAT OCCURS AT
LEAST FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES LATER THAN THE CURRENT START TIME FOR
ITS SECONDARY LEVEL. Prior to adopting the new start time, the
governing body shall inform its community, including parents,
students, school administrators, school employes and other
stakeholders about the health, safety and academic impacts of
sleep deprivation on secondary school students and the benefits
of a later secondary school start time and shall discuss with
the community local strategies to successfully implement the
later school start time .
(b) The department shall provide guidance and support for
school entities to explore changes to secondary school start
times and to engage in public education campaigns to raise
awareness about the importance of adequate sleep for
adolescents.
(c) (B) School entities that adopt a policy under subsection
(a) may use funding under section 1306-B(j)(33) to alleviate
costs associated with the planning, implementation or operation
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of a later school start time.
(d) (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" shall mean the Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"School entity" shall mean a school district, intermediate
unit, area career and technical school, charter school, cyber
charter school or regional charter school.
"Secondary school" shall mean a school entity that provides
instruction in grades seven through twelve or any combination of
those grades.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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