Bill > SB246

This bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to establish comprehensive notification requirements for schools (including public, nonpublic, and private schools) regarding certain serious incidents. Specifically, schools must notify parents, guardians, and employees within 24 hours of incidents involving weapons, repeated bullying, harassment, serious bodily injury, or significant damage to school property exceeding $1,000. The notification must use a communication method likely to reach the intended recipients and is generally limited to the specific school building or campus where the incident occurred. The bill defines key terms like "weapon" (which includes knives, firearms, and other implements capable of causing serious bodily injury) and establishes guidelines for how notifications should be handled. Importantly, the notifications must comply with student privacy laws and cannot include personally identifiable information about students. The bill also clarifies that these notification requirements do not supersede existing responsibilities to report incidents to law enforcement or follow emergency preparedness plans, and does not interfere with collective bargaining agreements. The new regulations will take effect 60 days after passage, aiming to improve transparency and safety communication in educational settings.

Budget and Finance, Education, Government Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=246