Pennsylvania HB 356: 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 inclusion.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 310
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 356
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MUNROE, KHAN, HANBIDGE, GIRAL, KENYATTA, SANCHEZ,
GUENST, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, FRANKEL,
GREEN, MADDEN, ISAACSON, DONAHUE AND HOWARD, 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,
further providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention
and providing for violence prevention and social inclusion.
This act may be referred to as the Safety and Violence
Education for Students (SAVE Students) Act.
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 school personnel and
student suicide awareness and prevention training:
(1) The department shall require a school entity serving
students in grades six through twelve to provide students at
least one (1) hour, or one (1) standard class period, of
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evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training each
school year. The following shall apply:
(i) The training may be delivered in person or digitally.
(ii) The training shall begin within two (2) years of the
development of the list required under paragraph (2).
(iii) Training programs that combine the training
requirements under this subsection and section 1526.1(a) may be
used to fulfill the requirements of this subsection.
(2) Within one (1) year of the effective date of this
paragraph, the department shall develop a list of evidence-based
trainings and materials, including no-cost programming, if any,
to fulfill the requirements of this subsection. At a minimum,
the trainings shall:
(i) Teach school personnel how to identify the signs and
signals of depression, suicide and self-injury in students and
when and how to refer youth and their families to appropriate
mental health services for assessment within the school entity
and the community.
(ii) Teach students how to identify the signs and signals of
depression, suicide and self-injury in themselves and their
peers, the importance of seeking help for themselves and their
peers and the process for seeking help.
(3) The department shall make the list under paragraph (2)
available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website.
(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term "evidence-
based" is defined as in section 1526.1(e).
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1526.1. Violence Prevention and Social Inclusion.--
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(a) The following shall apply to student safety and violence
prevention training:
(1) The department shall require a school entity serving
students in grades six through twelve to provide students at
least one (1) hour, or one (1) standard class period, of
evidence-based youth violence prevention training each school
year. The following shall apply:
(i) The training may be delivered in person or digitally.
(ii) The training shall begin within two (2) years of the
development of the list required under paragraph (2).
(iii) Training programs that combine the training
requirements under this subsection and section 1526(c.1) may be
used to fulfill the training requirements of this subsection.
(2) Within one (1) year of the effective date of this
paragraph, the department shall develop a list of evidence-based
trainings and materials, including no-cost programming, if any,
to fulfill the requirements of this subsection. At a minimum,
the trainings shall teach students the following:
(i) How to identify observable warning signs and signals of
an individual who may be a threat to the individual or others.
(ii) The importance of taking threats seriously and seeking
help.
(iii) The steps that can be taken to report dangerous,
violent, threatening, harmful or potentially harmful activity.
(3) The department shall make the list under paragraph (2)
available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website.
(b) The following shall apply to student social inclusion
training:
(1) The department shall require a school entity serving
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students in kindergarten through grade twelve to provide
students at least one (1) hour, or one (1) standard class
period, of evidence-based social inclusion training each school
year. The following shall apply