PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1632 PRINTER'S NO. 1826
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1448
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BELLMON, McCLINTON, GALLOWAY, MADDEN, RABB,
PROBST, PARKER, HOHENSTEIN, BRENNAN, KHAN, SANCHEZ, CERRATO,
BOYLE, ABNEY, HILL-EVANS, McNEILL, KINSEY, D. WILLIAMS,
GREEN, FRIEL, KAZEEM, WEBSTER, KENYATTA AND T. DAVIS,
JUNE 20, 2023
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JULY 6, 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 conflict resolution instruction.
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 1555. Conflict Resolution Instruction.--(a) (1)
13 Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each school entity shall
14 provide instruction on conflict resolution to all students. The
15 instruction shall be integrated into an appropriate course of
16 study as determined by each school entity.
17 (2) The conflict resolution instruction required under
18 paragraph (1) shall be age appropriate and sequential in method
 1 of study and shall include, but not be limited to, information
2 on the following topics:
3 (i) Skills of conflict resolution, including methods of
4 diffusing conflict situations and resolving differences
5 amicably.
6 (ii) The mediation process.
7 (iii) Respect for and awareness of different cultures,
8 beliefs, religions, races, gender identities and sexual
9 orientations, including empathy and compassion for others.
10 (iv) Effective communication.
11 (v) Establishing and maintaining positive social
12 relationships.
13 (vi) Effectively managing emotions.
14 (vii) Making responsible decisions.
15 (viii) The correlation between conflict and violence,
16 including gun violence.
17 (3) A school entity may utilize appropriate public or
18 private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
19 and implementing the conflict resolution instruction required
20 under paragraph (1) and may utilize curriculum or an existing
21 program that complies with the requirements of this section.
22 (b) (1) Within six (6) months of the effective date of this
23 section, the department shall compile a list of appropriate
24 curriculum and materials that school entities may utilize to
25 comply with the requirements of this section and shall post the
26 list on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
27 (2) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the department
28 shall make available to all school entities in-service training
29 programs based upon the conflict resolution instruction required
30 under this section. The in-service training programs developed
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 1 under this subsection shall be revised when necessary to ensure
2 that the in-service training programs provide the most current
3 information.
4 (3) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and every three
5 (3) years thereafter, a school entity shall provide, as part of
6 the school entity's in-service training, programs based upon the
7 conflict resolution instruction requirements established under
8 this section for all instructors whose teaching responsibilities
9 include courses of study in which the mandated conflict
10 resolution instruction is integrated. A school entity may
11 utilize the in-service training programs developed by the
12 department under paragraph (2) or use other alternative programs
13 that are consistent with the provisions of this section.
14 (c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
15 shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
16 the context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "CONFLICT RESOLUTION" SHALL MEAN A FORMAL OR INFORMAL PROCESS <--
18 THAT TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS USE TO FIND A PEACEFUL
19 SOLUTION TO REDUCE DISAGREEMENT, DISCORD OR FRICTION.
20 "Department" shall mean the Department of Education of the
21 Commonwealth.
22 "School entity" shall mean a school district, joint school
23 district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter
24 school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
25 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1632: P.L.30, No.14
Printer's No. 1826: P.L.30, No.14