Pennsylvania HB 2008: An Act providing for School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program and for awarding grants; establishing the Youth Court Program Account; and making a transfer.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2562
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2008
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KAZEEM, CARROLL, BOYD, MADDEN, McNEILL, HANBIDGE,
GIRAL, SANCHEZ, KHAN, WAXMAN, MAYES, STEELE, GREEN AND CURRY,
NOVEMBER 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program and for
awarding grants; establishing the Youth Court Program
Account; and making a transfer.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the School-Based
Youth Court Pilot Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The Youth Court Program Account established under
section 10(a).
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Institution of higher education." Any of the following:
(1) A community college operating under Article XIX-A of
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
Public School Code of 1949.
(2) A university within the State System of Higher
Education.
(3) The Pennsylvania State University.
(4) The University of Pittsburgh.
(5) Temple University.
(6) Lincoln University.
(7) Any other institution that is designated as "State-
related" by the Commonwealth.
(8) An accredited private or independent college or
university.
"Local education agency." A school district, cyber charter
school, charter school, area career and technical school or
intermediate unit.
"Organizing entity." A local education agency or institution
of higher education that is administering a school-based youth
court.
"Program." The School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program
established under section 4.
"Sanction." Discipline handed down by a youth court that a
referred youth must perform to redress harm caused by the
youth's conduct and assist the referred youth in acquiring
insight into the consequences of the youth's behavior to make
better decisions in the future. A sanction may include the
following:
(1) Cooperating with court-assigned mentors or tutors.
(2) Mediated conversations between conflicting parties.
(3) Goal-setting tasks tailored to respondent needs.
(4) Customized dispositions.
20250HB2008PN2562 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(5) Mandatory performance of community service.
(6) Participation on a youth court jury.
(7) Attendance at education workshops.
(8) Essay writing.
(9) Letter of apology or oral apology.
(10) Restitution and behavior modification classes.
(11) Other tasks as outlined in a behavior contract.
"School." An elementary, middle or high school located in
this Commonwealth.
"School-based youth court." A disciplinary court operated in
a school that processes school disciplinary offenses.
"Trauma-informed approach." As defined in section 102 of the
Public School Code of 1949.
"Youth." Any of the following:
(1) An individual under 21 years of age at the time of
the alleged offense for which the individual has been
referred to a youth court.
(2) An individual under 21 years of age enrolled in a
school who has been referred to a school disciplinary
proceeding for violating a school code of conduct or policy.
Section 3. Resource center.
The department shall establish an Education and Justice
Resource Center to:
(1) develop program guidelines and procedures under
section 4(b);
(2) identify and develop youth court training materials;
(3) provide training and technical assistance for
awardees of grants under section 6;
(4) provide assistance to local education agencies
seeking to start and operate youth courts;
20250HB2008PN2562 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(5) oversee data collection from programs, including
academic, socialization and civic engagement skill
acquisition by youth court members;
(6) engage with national and State youth court
organizations;
(7) support the growth and development of other
restorative justice strategies in schools; and
(8) ensure that all youth court members and trainers
understand restorative principles and are trauma informed and
that trauma training is completed before a formal hearing is
held.
Section 4. School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program.
(a) Establishment.--The School-Based Youth Court Pilot
Program is established within the department to support the
development of youth courts in schools as a trauma-informed
approach to alternative disciplinary disposition and effective
system of restorative justice for student misconduct. The
program shall operate for three full school years, beginning
with the first school year that begins at least six months after
the effective date of this subsection.
(b) Guidelines and procedures.--No later than six months
after the effective date of this sub