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.

PRINTER'S NO.    861

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 830
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY O'MARA, BURGOS, FIEDLER, GIRAL, M. MACKENZIE,
        KENYATTA, McNEILL, ABNEY, SANCHEZ, HOWARD, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        HADDOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, MALAGARI, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS, FLEMING,
        OTTEN, CERRATO, GREEN, MAYES, WAXMAN, RADER, HANBIDGE,
        PIELLI, SHUSTERMAN, DONAHUE, MERSKI AND STEELE,
        MARCH 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 10, 2025


                                    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 student supports, further
 6      providing for policy relating to bullying.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1303.1-A(a) and (e) of the act of March
10   10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of
11   1949, are amended to read:
12      Section 1303.1-A.    Policy Relating to Bullying.--(a)   No
13   later than January 1, 2009, each school entity shall adopt a
14   policy or amend its existing policy relating to bullying and
15   incorporate the policy into the school entity's code of student
16   conduct required under 22 Pa. Code § 12.3(c) (relating to school
17   rules). The policy shall delineate disciplinary consequences for
18   bullying and may provide for prevention, intervention and
 1   education programs, provided that no school entity shall be
 2   required to establish a new policy under this section if one
 3   currently exists and reasonably fulfills the requirements of
 4   this section. The policy shall identify the appropriate school
 5   staff person to receive reports of incidents of alleged
 6   bullying. The policy shall include mechanisms to notify parents
 7   and legal guardians of children involved in a bullying or
 8   cyberbullying incident within five (5) days of the incident. A
 9   school entity's notification to a parent about an incident or a
10   report of bullying, cyberbullying or retaliation must comply
11   with 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (relating to family educational and
12   privacy rights) and 34 CFR Pt. 99 (relating to family
13   educational rights and privacy).
14      * * *
15      (e)    For purposes of this article, "bullying" shall mean an
16   intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, or a
17   series of acts:
18      (1)    directed at another student or students;
19      (2)    which occurs in a school setting;
20      (3)    that is severe, persistent or pervasive; and
21      (4)    that has the effect of doing any of the following:
22      (i)    substantially interfering with a student's education;
23      (ii)    creating a threatening environment; or
24      (iii)     substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the
25   school; [and]
26      "cyberbullying" shall mean a written, verbal or physical act
27   or series of acts of bullying that are committed during school
28   hours and through the use of data or computer software accessed
29   through a:
30      (1)    computer;

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1      (2)   computer system;
2      (3)   computer network; or
3      (4)   cellular telephone or other wireless or cellular
4   communications device; and
5      "school setting" shall mean in the school, on school grounds,
6   in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop or at any activity
7   sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.
8      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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