Synopsis: Pennsylvania has made several
attemptsd to pass an anti bullying law. Below is SB 71, which would
be graded a C+
if passed.
SENATE BILL
No. 71 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, ORIE, KITCHEN, COSTA, BOSCOLA,
RAFFERTY, FONTANA, PUNT, TARTAGLIONE, ERICKSON, O'PAKE,
WASHINGTON, BROWNE AND STACK, JANUARY 29, 2007
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 29, 2007
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled
"An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions
applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising,
consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," further providing
for Office for Safe Schools; and requiring the establishment of policies
relating to bullying.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1302-A(c) of the act of
March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
amended June 26, 1999 (P.L.394, No.36), is amended to read:
Section 1302-A. Office for Safe Schools.--* * *
(c) In addition to the
powers and duties set forth under subsection (a), the office is authorized
to make targeted grants to schools to fund programs which address school
violence, including, but not limited to, the following programs:
(1) Conflict resolution or dispute management.
(2) Peer helpers programs.
(3) Risk assessment, safety-related or violence prevention curricula.
(4) Classroom management.
(5) Student codes of conduct.
(6) Training to undertake a districtwide assessment of risk factors
that increase the likelihood of problem behaviors among students.
(7) Development and implementation of research-based violence prevention
programs that address risk factors to reduce incidents of problem behaviors
among students including, but not limited to, bullying.
(8) Comprehensive, districtwide school safety and violence prevention
plans.
(9) Security planning, purchase of security-related technology which
may include metal detectors, protective lighting, surveillance equipment,
special emergency communications equipment, electronic locksets, deadbolts
and theft control devices and training in the use of security-related technology.
Security planning and purchase of security-related technology shall be
based on safety needs identified by the school entity's board of directors.
(10)
Institution of student, staff and visitor identification systems.
(11)
Establishment or enhancement of school security personnel, including school
resource officers.
(12)
Provision of specialized staff and student training programs, including
training for Student Assistance Program team members in elementary, middle
and high schools in the referral of students at risk of violent behavior
to appropriate community-based services, including mental health services.
(13)
Alternative education programs provided for in Article
(14)
Counseling services for students enrolled in alternative education programs.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a
section to read: Section 1303.1-A. Policy Relating to Bullying.
(a) No later than June
30, 2007, each school entity shall adopt a policy relating to bullying
or amend the school entity's code of student conduct required under 22
Pa. Code § 12.3(c) (relating to school rules) to include provisions
relating to bullying. The policy or amendment to the code of student conduct
shall delineate discipline consequences for bullying and may provide for
prevention, intervention and education programs, provided that no school
entity shall be required to establish a new policy under this section if
one currently exists and reasonably fulfills the requirements of this section.
(b) Each school entity
shall distribute the policy relating to bullying with the code of student
conduct required under 22 Pa. Code § 12.3 (c) and shall make the policy
available on its publicly accessible Internet website.
(c) Each school entity
shall review its policy every three years and annually provide the office
with a copy of its policy relating to bullying, including information related
to the development and implementation of any bullying prevention, intervention
and education programs. The information required under this subsection
shall be attached to or made part of the annual report required under section
1303-A(b).
(d) For the purposes of
this section, "bullying" shall have the same meaning as it is given in
the section related to definitions in the annual report on school violence
and weapon possession that school entities are required to complete pursuant
to section 1303-A(b).
Section 3. This act shall take effect in
60 days.
The Bully Police - Pennsylvania
leadership group:
Heidi Markow – Co Director, Bully Police Pennsylvania,
had a sister murdered by a bully ex-husband in June 2006.
Email: Heidimarkow (at) aol
(dot) com.
PA-Roy Baldwin – Bully Police Pennsylvania, Legislative
Liaison – Email: baldwinr68 (at) yahoo (dot)
com - Works at the Milton Hershey School as a House Parent,
and in various volunteer organizations (http://www.mhs-pa.org)
Monica Thomas – Bully Police Pennsylvania Pittston
Area School District Director – Parent of a student being bullied (Her
son, Joey, is doing a video documentary on his experiences) - Email: adoptionreformactivist
(at) yahoo (dot) com
One Education Committee Member - Senate
Browne, Patrick Senate District 16
ROOM: 460 Capitol Building
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-1349
E-MAIL ADDRESS: pbrowne @ pasen.gov
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatorbrowne.com
