HB 2486 — 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 student mental health supports.

PRINTER'S NO.   3358

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2486
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY N. NELSON, HILL-EVANS, GUZMAN, RIVERA, K. HARRIS,
        GUENST, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ 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 terms and courses of study,
 6      providing for student mental health supports.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11   section to read:
12      Section 1535.    Student Mental Health Supports.--(a)
13   Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school entity
14   shall:
15      (1)   Adopt a comprehensive student mental health support
16   policy consistent with subsection (c), inform each school entity
17   employe and the parent or legal guardian of each student
18   enrolled in the school entity of the policy and post the policy
19   on the school entity's publicly accessible Internet website. The
 1   policy adopted by a school entity under this paragraph may be
 2   based upon the model policy developed by the department under
 3   subsection (b)(1).
 4      (2)    Include in the professional development plan submitted
 5   by the school entity to the secretary for approval pursuant to
 6   section 1205.1 four (4) hours of training in comprehensive
 7   student mental health support every five (5) years for
 8   professional educators in school buildings serving students in
 9   grades six through twelve. The following shall apply:
10      (i)    Training under this paragraph may be used to satisfy a
11   professional educator's continuing professional education
12   requirement under section 1205.2.
13      (ii)    A school entity may use the materials made available by
14   the department under subsection (b)(2) to conduct the training.
15      (b)    The department shall:
16      (1)    Develop, in consultation with a youth mental health
17   organization operating in this Commonwealth, a model student
18   mental health support policy which shall be consistent with
19   subsection (c).
20      (2)    Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
21   Internet website the following, which may include materials
22   already publicly available:
23      (i)    Recommended guidelines and educational materials for the
24   training required under subsection (a)(2).
25      (ii)    Recommended resources and age-appropriate educational
26   materials on student mental health.
27      (3)    Develop a model student mental health curriculum and
28   make the curriculum available to all school entities and, upon
29   request, to nonpublic schools. A school entity may incorporate
30   the curriculum into its existing instructional program pursuant

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 1   to the school entity's student mental health support policy.
 2      (c)     The model policy developed by the department under
 3   subsection (b)(1) and any policy adopted by a school entity
 4   under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following:
 5      (1)     A guide on student mental health supports available to
 6   students.
 7      (2)     Protocols for administering the student mental health
 8   support policy to staff and students.
 9      (3)     Procedures for identification and referral of students
10   in need of student mental health support.
11      (4)     Methods of intervention, including procedures that
12   involve caregivers and staff in addressing student mental health
13   support.
14      (5)     Reporting procedures.
15      (6)     Recommended resources for student mental health support,
16   including current contact information for such programs.
17      (7)     Procedures for identifying students who have experienced
18   trauma or loss and a protocol for providing student mental
19   health support that includes evidence-based programming tailored
20   to trauma or grief.
21      (d)     As used in this section, the following words and phrases
22   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
23   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
24      "Department."     The Department of Education of the
25   Commonwealth.
26      "Nonpublic school."     A nonprofit school, other than a school
27   entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
28   fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
29   act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
30   Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et

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1   seq.).
2      "Professional educator."   As defined in section 1205.2(o).
3      "School entity."   A school district, joint school district,
4   charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
5   intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
6      "Secretary."   The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
7      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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