Education (Student Health)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 29, 2025

HB 1883: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, providing for chronic absence prevention and support.

HB 1883 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to address student chronic absence (missing many school days) by requiring school districts to implement prevention and support programs instead of solely focusing on punishment. It directly affects school districts, students with chronic absence, and their families by shifting the approach to attendance. The key provision mandates districts to develop and maintain evidence-based strategies to help students attend regularly, such as family outreach, counseling, or academic support. This replaces punitive measures with proactive support systems for students struggling with attendance. The bill focuses on practical, supportive interventions rather than disciplinary actions for absenteeism.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates evidence-based support programs for chronic absenteeism instead of punishment, strengthening student attendance support systems under K-12 education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 2, 2025

HB 1376: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for school-based health centers.

HB 1376 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish standards for school-based health centers in public, private, and parochial schools. It requires these centers to provide accessible care without denying services based on payment ability, insurance status, or health conditions, while coordinating with students' existing primary care providers. Centers must offer a full range of services with proper parental consent, minimize barriers to care, and maintain confidentiality per federal law. The bill also creates a statewide advisory council and a department liaison to oversee implementation and ensure centers align with student needs like age, demographics, and community resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates accessible school health centers without financial/insurance barriers, directly enhancing educational access and student well-being per Public School Code amendment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates non-discriminatory school-based health centers with full services, no denial based on payment/insurance, and confidentiality, expanding healthcare access for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Children's Health Primary Care

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1706: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for student mental health awareness.

HB 1706 requires Pennsylvania schools to integrate student mental health awareness into existing health education standards and school operations. It mandates the State Board of Education to update health standards, the Department of Health and Education to develop public guidelines on mental health warning signs for students and families, and schools to notify students and parents twice yearly about local mental health services. The bill also requires school entities to report student absences or injuries in activities to student assistance programs and directs the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to add mental health training to coach certification by the 2025-2026 school year. This bill directly affects all public, private, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania, their students, families, and athletic staff.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health awareness integration into school health curriculum and services, enhancing student well-being support within education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health awareness integration in schools, updates health standards, and provides resources for students/families, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 1445: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for school-based services; and, in telemedicine, further providing for insurance coverage of telemedicine.

HB 1445 requires health insurers in Pennsylvania to cover medically necessary health services provided in schools - such as mental health care, behavioral health services, and speech therapy - without denying coverage solely because the service occurs in a school setting. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage based on location (e.g., through "school setting" or "place of service" exclusions), applying to public, charter, cyber charter, and private schools. Exceptions allow denials if services are provided by unlicensed individuals, are not medically necessary per insurer policies, or conflict with existing legal obligations (like IEPs). This law directly affects students receiving school-based care, insurers, and school entities, ensuring coverage parity for services delivered on school premises.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires insurers to cover school-based health services (mental health, therapy) without location-based denials, enhancing student access to care and supporting educational well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for school-based mental health, behavioral health, and speech therapy services, prohibiting location-based exclusions to expand access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Insurance Telehealth

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 1, 2026

HB 830: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for policy relating to bullying.

This bill requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt or update a bullying policy that includes clear disciplinary consequences for bullying incidents and designates a staff member to handle reports. Schools must notify parents within five days of a bullying or cyberbullying incident while following federal privacy laws. The policy may also include prevention and intervention programs, and the bill clarifies that bullying involves repeated, severe acts in a school setting that disrupt education or create a threatening environment. Cyberbullying is specifically defined as bullying occurring via electronic devices during school hours.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates stronger bullying policies with disciplinary consequences and parent notification in public schools, directly enhancing student safety and educational access per topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2025

SB 930: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for school safety and security training and for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; and making editorial changes.

SB 930 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen school safety and security systems. It establishes a School Safety and Security Committee, requires schools to appoint coordinators for safety planning, and mandates annual training for staff on topics like cyber safety, active shooter drills, and mental health awareness. The bill creates a grant program funding mental health services and cyber security measures (e.g., preventing data breaches), with funds restricted to these purposes. Schools must report safety meeting attendance and security personnel details annually, starting in 2026, to their boards of directors. These changes directly affect public school districts, charter schools, and their administrators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates School Safety Grant Program funding mental health and cyber security services, allocating state funds for public safety programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program for mental health/cybersecurity services and mandates safety training, strengthening school safety infrastructure under education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates grant program funding mental health services and mental health awareness training in schools, directly advancing healthcare access through school-based mental health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates cyber safety training and funds cybersecurity measures (e.g., preventing data breaches) to protect student data within school systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 18, 2025

SB 33: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for comprehensive school counseling services.

This bill requires all Pennsylvania public schools (including school districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) to develop written comprehensive school counseling plans. Each plan must ensure 80% of a school counselor's time is spent on direct student services (like individual counseling, classroom instruction) or indirect services (like parent consultations), with annual reviews and grade-level planning. The plans must address academic, career, and social-emotional needs for all students, including those with special needs, and align with state guidance. School counselors must hold valid Pennsylvania certification to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates comprehensive counseling plans requiring 80% counselor time on direct student services to address academic/career/social-emotional needs, enhancing student support programs.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school counseling plans addressing social-emotional needs, directly supporting mental health services in schools as part of healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 342: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for mindfulness techniques.

HB 342 would require all Pennsylvania public schools (including charter and cyber schools) and qualifying nonpublic schools to provide 15 minutes daily of mindfulness instruction for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The bill mandates that schools adopt policies for this instruction, defines "mindfulness" as present-moment awareness of body, mind, and feelings, and explicitly prohibits religious content. The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop and distribute model policies, curricula, and best-practice guidelines for schools to use. This bill directly affects all K-12 students and school entities across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates daily mindfulness instruction in K-12 curriculum, expanding student program offerings without restricting content or funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 215: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for professional librarian.

HB 215 requires every public school in Pennsylvania to employ at least one certified professional librarian. The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate that each school must have a librarian certified under Pennsylvania law (24 Pa.C.S. § 9319). This directly affects all public schools statewide by establishing a new staffing requirement for library professionals. The provision takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, with no exemptions specified. The change applies uniformly to all public schools, regardless of size or location.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates certified librarians in all Pennsylvania public schools, enhancing student resource access and curriculum support per Public School Code amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 816: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for parent educational information regarding eating disorders.

SB 816 requires Pennsylvania public schools serving grades 6-12 to annually provide parents with educational materials about eating disorders. The bill directly affects parents of middle and high school students by mandating schools to share information via email, mail, or school websites. Key mechanisms include creating a state Task Force (with health and education experts) to develop guidelines for school staff and parent resources on eating disorder warning signs and support services. The guidelines must be updated annually by the Task Force and incorporated into school health materials. This law amends the Public School Code to standardize parent education on eating disorders across all Pennsylvania school entities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school health education for parents on eating disorders, enhancing student health resources within K-12 framework per Public School Code amendment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school health education on eating disorders (mental health) and creates task force for parent resources, supporting mental health awareness and access to services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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