SB 1014 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to require public schools to adopt a "bell-to-bell phone-free policy" during the entire school day. This policy directly affects all public K-12 schools and students by prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time. The key provision mandates that schools establish and enforce this policy, though the bill does not specify exemptions or implementation details. The legislation focuses on reducing distractions in classrooms by limiting student phone access from the start to the end of the school day. It is currently pending in the Education committee.
SB 479 requires Pennsylvania public schools to observe a moment of silence during instructional hours on January 6 each year to honor those injured or killed in the 2021 Capitol insurrection. It directs the state Department of Education to develop a model curriculum about the January 6 events (including historical context, the attack, government response, and post-January 6 challenges) within 12 months, and to make this resource available online. School districts, charter schools, and other "school entities" are not required to adopt or use this curriculum. The bill applies to all public schools in Pennsylvania and takes effect immediately.
This bill requires all Pennsylvania public schools to install panic alert systems in every building where students receive instruction during the school day. These systems must silently notify local law enforcement directly during security emergencies like active threats or lockdowns, with activation via devices such as buttons or apps. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and is named Alyssa's Law. It applies specifically to public elementary, middle, and high school campuses, not private or parochial schools.
SB 999 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require school districts to provide training on recognizing seizures and administering first aid for seizure emergencies to appropriate staff. This directly affects school employees, including teachers and nurses, who may respond to student health incidents during school hours. The key provision mandates that this training be integrated into existing school health services programs. The bill aims to improve student safety by ensuring staff are equipped to handle seizure-related emergencies effectively.
HB 823 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to replace annual fire drills with "school security drills" in all public school buildings. It requires schools to conduct one security drill per year (after the first 90 days of school), with specific rules: drills must be age-appropriate, avoid violent simulations (like fake weapons or injuries), include mental health professionals, and require 7 days' advance notice to parents. Schools must also hold a debriefing period with mental health support immediately after each drill. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania public schools and their students, shifting focus from fire safety to comprehensive security planning.
HB 1253 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen school safety and student support systems. It updates definitions to include charter schools and nonpublic schools in reporting requirements, mandating standardized forms for schools to report incidents of violence and weapons on school property (including school-sponsored activities and transportation). The bill requires the School Safety and Security Committee to verify school compliance with reporting rules, publish an annual safety report by November 1, and develop a model agreement between schools and law enforcement that must be reviewed every three years. These changes directly affect public and nonpublic schools, their administrators, and local law enforcement agencies.
HB 803 requires Pennsylvania high schools (grades 9-12) to maintain opioid antagonists like naloxone (Narcan) on-site and train staff to use them during suspected overdose emergencies. Schools must develop a policy within 60 days with the Department of Education, detailing safe storage, administration procedures, and mandatory hospital transport after use. Trained staff, including nurses or teachers, can administer the medication in good faith without facing legal liability, criminal charges, or professional penalties. This law directly affects all public, charter, private, and nonpublic high schools in Pennsylvania, aiming to improve emergency response to opioid overdoses among students and staff.
SB 1039 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to enhance student supports and school safety. It creates a new Pennsylvania Mental Health First Aid Training Program for school staff and updates the School Safety and Security Grant Program to fund safety improvements. The bill directly affects public schools, teachers, and students by requiring mental health training for staff and providing grant opportunities for school safety projects. These changes aim to improve student well-being and school safety infrastructure through concrete program additions.
SB 982 amends Pennsylvania's education code to establish new requirements for preventing and responding to bullying and cyberbullying in public K-12 schools. It requires all school entities (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) to adopt or revise anti-bullying policies by July 1 of the year after the law takes effect, including confidential reporting, 24-hour parent notifications for confirmed incidents, and 3-day investigation timelines. Schools must designate a bullying response coordinator, provide age-appropriate prevention education in existing curricula, and train staff every three years. The bill mandates annual anonymized data reporting on incidents through the Safe2Say Program and requires the Department of Education to develop a model policy within 120 days. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 82 establishes a grant program to train school bus drivers in recognizing symptoms of severe allergic reactions and safely administering epinephrine auto-injectors. School entities, including public school districts and charter schools, may require drivers to complete this training before transporting students. The Department of Education will administer the program, providing grants to fund training programs that teach drivers to identify anaphylaxis symptoms and use epinephrine devices. This policy directly affects school bus drivers, students with allergies, and school entities responsible for transportation safety.
