PRINTER'S NO. 721
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
736
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, FRANKEL, STURLA, SCHLOSSBERG, HANBIDGE,
SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, T. DAVIS, FREEMAN, WEBSTER,
HOHENSTEIN, DRISCOLL, KINSEY, McNEILL, ISAACSON, GUENST,
SOLOMON, SHUSTERMAN, LEE, ROZZI AND KINKEAD, MARCH 3, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 2021
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,
providing for child abuse awareness and prevention.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1529. Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention.--(a)
Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, each school entity
shall:
(1) 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. In developing the program,
the school entity shall use the model curriculum developed by
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the department under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Include training in child abuse awareness and prevention
in the professional development plan submitted by the school
entity to the secretary for approval under section 1205.1; which
shall provide four (4) hours of training every five (5) years
for professional educators assigned to teach courses into which
child abuse awareness and prevention education has been
incorporated under paragraph (1). Training under this paragraph
may be used to satisfy a professional educator's continuing
professional education requirement under section 1205.2. A
school entity shall use the materials made available by the
department under subsection (b)(2) to conduct the training.
(b) The department, in consultation with the Department of
Human Services and at least one organization addressing child
abuse, shall:
(1) Develop a model child abuse awareness and prevention
curriculum, which may include materials already publicly
available, and make the curriculum available to all school
entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.
(2) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
Internet website recommended guidelines and educational
materials for the training provided for under subsection (a)(2),
which may include materials already publicly available.
(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." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
entity, where a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
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fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).
"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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