Bill > HB2008

This bill establishes a School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create alternative disciplinary approaches for students. The program will run for three school years and involves creating an Education and Justice Resource Center to develop guidelines, provide training, and support youth court development. Local education agencies and higher education institutions can apply for grants up to $250,000 to establish youth courts, with priority given to school districts with lower local funding capacity and high disciplinary action rates. These youth courts will be staffed by students under 21 years old who will be trained to handle school disciplinary cases using restorative justice principles, focusing on educational interventions rather than punitive measures. The youth courts can impose sanctions like community service, mentoring, mediated conversations, and educational workshops, with the goal of helping students learn from their mistakes and avoid traditional disciplinary actions like suspensions. The bill allocates $9.5 million from the General Fund to support the program, requires annual reporting on outcomes, and aims to reduce student referrals to law enforcement by providing an alternative, trauma-informed approach to addressing student misconduct.

Justice

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2008