PRINTER'S NO. 584
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 645
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY KINSEY, BULLOCK, BELLMON, MADDEN, GIRAL, HILL-
EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ, KENYATTA, PARKER,
FLEMING, GALLOWAY, DEASY AND PROBST, MARCH 21, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 21, 2023
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
6 providing for bullying prevention education.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11 section to read:
12 Section 1529. Bullying Prevention Education.--(a)
13 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1303.1-A, beginning
14 with the 2023-2024 school year, each school entity shall:
15 (1) Develop an age-appropriate bullying prevention education
16 program and incorporate the program into the school entity's
17 existing curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade
18 twelve. In developing the program, the school entity may use the
19 model curriculum developed by the department under subsection
 1 (b)(1).
2 (2) Include training in bullying prevention in the
3 professional development plan submitted by the school entity to
4 the secretary for approval under section 1205.1. Training under
5 this paragraph may be used to satisfy a professional educator's
6 continuing professional education requirement under section
7 1205.2. A school entity may use the materials made available by
8 the department under subsection (b)(2) to conduct the training.
9 (b) The department, in consultation with at least one
10 organization addressing bullying prevention, shall:
11 (1) Develop a model bullying prevention education
12 curriculum, which may include materials already publicly
13 available, and make the curriculum available to school entities
14 and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.
15 (2) Compile, develop and post on the department's publicly
16 accessible Internet website recommended guidelines and
17 educational materials for the training provided for under
18 subsection (a)(2), which may include materials already publicly
19 available.
20 (c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
21 shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
22 the context clearly indicates otherwise:
23 "Bullying." As defined in section 1303.1-A.
24 "Department." The Department of Education of the
25 Commonwealth.
26 "Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
27 entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
28 fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
29 act and that meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. § 2000d
30 (relating to prohibition against exclusion from participation
20230HB0645PN0584 - 2 -
1 in, denial of benefits of, and discrimination under federally
2 assisted programs on ground of race, color, or national origin).
3 "Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).
4 "School entity." A school district, joint school district,
5 charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
6 intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
7 "Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
8 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20230HB0645PN0584 - 3 -


Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0584: P.L.30, No.14