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.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

444 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

2860460 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFDALEY, PENNSYLVANIAMAYES, HOUSEPIELLI, BILLMALAGARI, SessionGIRAL, HOHENSTEIN, FLEMING, OTTEN, KENYATTA, DEASY, CERRATO AND GREEN,ANCHEZ, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.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;

460 2025 INTRODUCED BY DALEY, MAYES, PIELLI, MALAGARI, GIRAL, HOHENSTEIN, FLEMING, OTTEN, KENYATTA, DEASY, CERRATO, GREEN, HANBIDGE, T.

DAVIS AND K.

HARRIS, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 AS FEBRUARY 3, 2026D CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 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;

and, in terms and courses of study, providing for child abuse awareness and prevention.

of study, providing for child abuse The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

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:

* * * (3) Employes shall complete a minimum of [three (3)] four <-- (4) hours of training every five (5) years.

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.

(b) The department, in consultation with the Department of Human Services and at least one organization addressing child 20250HB0460PN2860 - 2 - abuse, shall:

20250HB0460PN0444 - 2 - (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 20250HB0460PN2860 - 3 - SPECIFIED UNDER SECTION 1205.6(A)(1)(V).

"PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOL." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE <-- ACT OF JANUARY 28, 1988 (P.L.24, NO.11), KNOWN AS THE "PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOLS ACT," WHICH IS LICENSED UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE "PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOLS ACT." "School entity." A school district, joint school district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.

"SEXUAL ABUSE OR EXPLOITATION." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S.

§ <-- 6303(A).

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