HB 2152 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for secondary school start times.

PRINTER'S NO.     2779

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2152
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY COOPER, BRIGGS, FREEMAN, M. MACKENZIE, PROBST,
        MIHALEK, SANCHEZ, DIAMOND, RABB, FLEMING, BRENNAN, NEILSON,
        BURGOS, BOROWSKI, MADDEN, ROWE, SOLOMON, SMITH-WADE-EL,
        KOZAK, ORTITAY, BOYD, FRIEL, O'MARA, FRANKEL, TAKAC, WARREN,
        HARKINS, RIVERA AND GREEN, JANUARY 21, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 21, 2026


                                     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 school safety and security,
 6      further providing for School Safety and Security Grant
 7      Program; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for
 8      delaying secondary school start times.
 9      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10   hereby enacts as follows:
11      Section 1.     Section 1306-B(j) of the act of March 10, 1949
12   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
13   amended by adding a paragraph to read:
14   Section 1306-B.     School Safety and Security Grant Program.
15      * * *
16      (j)   Specific purposes.--The committee shall provide grants
17   to school entities for programs that address school mental
18   health and safety and security, including:
19            * * *
 1            (33)   Costs associated with the planning, implementation
 2      or operation of a later school start time. A school entity
 3      that applies for funding under this paragraph must adopt a
 4      policy under section 1504.1 relating to an instructional day
 5      start time no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for secondary schools.
 6      * * *
 7      Section 2.    The act is amended by adding a section to read:
 8      Section 1504.1.    Delaying Secondary School Start Times.--(a)
 9   The governing body of a school entity may adopt a policy to
10   implement an instructional day start time at the secondary
11   school level to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Prior to
12   adopting the new start time, the governing body shall inform its
13   community, including parents, students, school administrators,
14   school employes and other stakeholders about the health, safety
15   and academic impacts of sleep deprivation on secondary school
16   students and the benefits of a later secondary school start time
17   and shall discuss with the community local strategies to
18   successfully implement the later school start time.
19      (b)   The department shall provide guidance and support for
20   school entities to explore changes to secondary school start
21   times and to engage in public education campaigns to raise
22   awareness about the importance of adequate sleep for
23   adolescents.
24      (c)   School entities that adopt a policy under subsection (a)
25   may use funding under section 1306-B(j)(33) to alleviate costs
26   associated with the planning, implementation or operation of a
27   later school start time.
28      (d)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
29   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
30   the context clearly indicates otherwise:

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1      "Department" shall mean the Department of Education of the
2   Commonwealth.
3      "School entity" shall mean a school district, intermediate
4   unit, area career and technical school, charter school, cyber
5   charter school or regional charter school.
6      "Secondary school" shall mean a school entity that provides
7   instruction in grades seven through twelve or any combination of
8   those grades.
9      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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