HB 2485 — 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, providing for trauma-informed records program; and imposing a penalty.

PRINTER'S NO.   3357

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2485
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY N. NELSON, HILL-EVANS, GUZMAN, RIVERA, K. HARRIS,
        CERRATO, SANCHEZ AND GREEN, MAY 5, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 6, 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      providing for trauma-informed records program; and imposing a
 7      penalty.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12   section to read:
13   Section 1306.3-B.    Trauma-informed records program.
14      (a)   Trauma-informed records program establishment and
15   records maintenance.--A school entity that participates in the
16   School Safety and Security Grant Program established under
17   section 1306-B may establish a trauma-informed records program.
18   If a school entity opts to establish a trauma-informed records
19   program, the school entity shall maintain electronic records,
20   overseen by a mental health professional, in a format developed
 1   by the department that includes information relating to
 2   traumatic events and adverse childhood experiences of a student,
 3   including:
 4          (1)   Information provided by a county or law enforcement
 5      agency regarding a student.
 6          (2)   Information provided by a family-authorized medical
 7      provider regarding a student.
 8          (3)   Information concerning in-school incidents regarding
 9      a student that would prompt a call to a law enforcement
10      agency, behavioral health unit, mobile crisis unit, school
11      safety program or student support service such as a student
12      assistance program as defined in 22 Pa. Code § 12.16
13      (relating to definitions).
14          (4)   Information provided by a behavioral health unit, a
15      mobile crisis unit, a school safety program or a student
16      support service such as a student assistance program as
17      defined in 22 Pa. Code § 12.16.
18          (5)   A statement written by the school's certified school
19      counselor concerning the overall well-being of the student
20      that excludes confidential information.
21          (6)   A summary of known triggers for the student that
22      induce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder relating to
23      previous exposure to trauma that excludes confidential
24      information provided by a behavioral health unit, mobile
25      crisis unit, school safety program, student support service
26      or family-authorized medical provider.
27          (7)   A support plan detailing how a school entity will
28      care for the student regarding the history of exposure to
29      trauma and overall well-being of the student. The department
30      shall enforce the inclusion of a support plan by a school

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 1      entity that opts to establish a trauma-informed records
 2      program.
 3            (8)   Any information voluntarily given by a parent or
 4      guardian concerning a student.
 5      (b)   Administrator.--In the event a school entity does not
 6   have a mental health professional employed, a school board may
 7   select a currently employed school administrator to oversee the
 8   trauma-informed records. A school administrator selected by the
 9   school board shall undergo educational training relating to
10   trauma-informed approaches as outlined under section 1205.7, as
11   well as training relating to record management.
12      (c)   Tiers of information.--The department, in developing an
13   electronic format for trauma-informed records, shall classify
14   information into the following three tiers:
15            (1)   Tier one shall include all aspects of a student's
16      trauma-informed record, as well as the contact information of
17      any outside agency that has provided information to a school
18      entity concerning a traumatic event of a student.
19            (2)   Tier two shall only include a summary of traumatic
20      events with a list of known triggers for a student that
21      induce post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms relating to
22      previous exposure to trauma. The summary shall include the
23      support plan for the student in place by the school entity
24      and exclude confidential information.
25            (3)   Tier three shall only include a brief statement
26      concerning the overall well-being of a student.
27      (d)   Use.--Information maintained in trauma-informed records
28   shall be utilized exclusively for usage purposes such as
29   assisting:
30            (1)   A school entity in developing a trauma-informed

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 1      approach to support the student population.
 2            (2)   A school entity in developing instructional
 3      approaches under section 1205.7.
 4            (3)   School officials as a part of the determination
 5      process of in-school supports needed for a student.
 6      (e)   Restrictions on use.--Information maintained in a
 7   trauma-informed record shall not be:
 8            (1)   used for determining whether or not a student is
 9      admitted to a school, extracurricular activity or institute
10      of higher education; or
11            (2)   subject to subpoena for a criminal matter or
12      permitted to be used in a juvenile criminal justice matter.
13      (f)   Confidentiality.--A student's trauma-informed record
14   shall be confidential and the record content may only be
15   divulged if considered appropriate by the mental health
16   professional or the school administrator responsible for the
17   maintenance of the record and with parental agreement in some
18   instances. The following authorities shall have access to
19   request information within the records:
20            (1)   The parent or guardian of a student for which the
21      school entity has maintained a record.
22            (2)   School officials and professional employees. All
23      school officials or professional employees must have written
24      authorization by the certified school counselor or the school
25      administrator responsible for the maintenance of the records
26      in order to view a student's trauma-informed record. The
27      written authorization shall outline to which tier under
28      subsection (c) a school official or professional employee has
29      access. A school official or professional employee must
30      request access to a student's record each time access to the

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 1      record is required.
 2            (3)   A family-authorized medical provider. All family-
 3      authorized medical providers must have written authorization
 4      by the student's parent or guardian in order to view a
 5      student's record.
 6            (4)   Cooperating county or law enforcement agencies. All
 7      cooperating county and law enforcement agencies must have
 8      written authorization by the student's parent or guardian in
 9      order to view a student's record.
10            (5)   The student for which a record has been maintained.
11      (g)   Transfer.--When a student transfers to another grant-
12   funded school entity or grant-funded nonpublic school under this
13   article, a certified copy of the student's trauma-informed
14   record shall be transmitted to the school entity or nonpublic
15   school to which the student has transferred. The school entity
16   or nonpublic school to which the student has transferred shall
17   request the record. The sending school entity or nonpublic
18   school shall have 10 days from receipt of the request to supply
19   a certified copy of the student's record. The transfer of the
20   record shall be administered by the school counselors or school
21   administrator selected by the school boards of the respective
22   school entities or nonpublic schools.
23      (h)   Retention.--If a school entity no longer receives grant
24   funding under this article or if a student no longer attends the
25   school entity, the school entity shall retain trauma-informed
26   records for no longer than two years after the discontinuation
27   of funding or disenrollment of the student. A school entity
28   shall destroy all trauma-informed records maintained by a school
29   entity in accordance with regulations promulgated by the
30   department two years after the discontinuation of funding or

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 1   disenrollment of the student.
 2      (i)    Record establishment.--A parent or guardian of a student
 3   shall be notified of a trauma-informed record being established
 4   for that student and shall either approve or reject the creation
 5   of a trauma-informed record.
 6      (j)    Penalty.--Any individual who discloses a record deemed
 7   confidential under this section, unless the individual is
 8   authorized by this section, commits a misdemeanor of the third
 9   degree.
10      (k)    Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
11   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
12   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Post-traumatic stress disorder."     As defined in the
14   Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th
15   Edition: DSM-5, 2013, published by the American Psychiatric
16   Association.
17      "Support plan."     A detailed written document that specifies
18   the support services that are to be developed and provided to
19   the student, including information on the following:
20             (1)   Services provided to the student.
21             (2)   When the services shall be provided to the student.
22             (3)   Manner in which services shall meet the needs of the
23      student.
24             (4)   Individual providing services to the student.
25      "Trauma."     The term includes results from an event, series of
26   events or set of circumstances that is experienced by an
27   individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening
28   and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's
29   cognitive functioning and physical, social, emotional, mental or
30   spiritual well-being.

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 1      "Trauma-informed approach."    Includes a school-wide approach
 2   to education and a classroom-based approach to student learning
 3   that recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma and responds by
 4   fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies,
 5   professional learning, procedures and practices for the purposes
 6   of recognizing the presence and onset of trauma, resisting the
 7   reoccurrence of trauma and promoting resiliency tailored to a
 8   school entity's culture, climate and demographics and the
 9   community as a whole.
10      "Trauma-informed record."   A record of traumatic events as
11   established under this section.
12      "Traumatic event."   The term includes an event or series of
13   events that causes physical, emotional or psychological harm and
14   has lasting adverse effects on the individual's cognitive
15   functioning and physical, social, emotional, mental or spiritual
16   well-being.
17      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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