Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB192

Introduced
1/16/25  

Caption

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

Impact

With the passage of HB192, significant changes to the Public School Code of 1949 will take effect. The bill clarifies and expands the definitions of various professional roles within the educational setting, especially concerning school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. This is intended to standardize qualifications and services provided, ensuring that every school-age student in Pennsylvania has access to psychological support and health services directly within their immediate educational environment.

Summary

House Bill 192 aims to amend provisions related to psychological services in Pennsylvania's public schools by repealing certain outdated regulations and enhancing the roles of school social workers. The bill recognizes the importance of providing diagnostic and evaluative psychological services directly within the school environment. It emphasizes that these services are essential for the mental and emotional health of children and intends to make them universally accessible across public and nonpublic schools in the state.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB192 appears to be generally supportive among those who advocate for mental health services in schools. Educators and mental health professionals often argue that easing access to psychological services can greatly benefit students' overall well-being and educational outcomes. However, there may be concerns regarding the feasibility of implementing these changes, given the varying resources available in different school districts across the state.

Contention

Notable points of contention about this bill could arise from discussions about the qualifications necessary for school social workers and the adequacy of funding to support these enhancements in service provision. Stakeholders may debate the potential impact of mandated ratios between service providers and students, as well as how effectively the state can manage the increased responsibilities for school-based mental health services that HB192 introduces.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB341

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA HB1530

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA SB1055

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA SB232

In school health services, further providing for health services.

PA HB857

In safe schools, further providing for definitions, for Office for Safe Schools and for reporting.

PA HB562

In school health services, further providing for health services and for vision screening and examinations, providing for eye health examinations and further providing for examinations by examiners of own choice.

PA HB2191

In school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations.

PA SB337

In charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools.

PA SB780

In school health services, further providing for health services and for vision screening and examinations, providing for eye health and vision examinations and further providing for examinations by examiners of own choice.

PA HB301

In preliminary provisions, further providing for special provisions applicable to limited school years; in duties and powers of board of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers and for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers, repealing provisions relating to permit for classroom monitors and providing for permit for classroom monitors; providing for the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, for dependent children, for actual cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in the four chartered schools for education of the deaf and the blind, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records and repealing provisions relating to Safe Schools Advocate in School Districts of the First Class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for school safety and security committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in character education program, further providing for character education program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations and for limitations; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making an editorial change.

Similar Bills

PA SB900

Providing for Commonwealth support for a Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Staff Member Loan Forgiveness Program and an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor Loan Forgiveness Program; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

PA SB874

Providing for Commonwealth support for a Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Staff Member Loan Forgiveness Program and an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor Loan Forgiveness Program; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

PA HB341

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA HB1530

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA SB1055

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA SB1091

Further providing for legislative intent, for definitions, for license required, for State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, for powers and functions of board, for qualifications for license, for procedures for licensing, for reciprocity, for endorsement of out-of-State licenses and for reinstatement of license; providing for restrictions on use of title "Licensed Recreational Therapist"; and further providing for penalties, for license renewal and records and fees and for unlawful practice.

PA SB579

Providing for licensing and regulating the practice of music therapy; and making editorial changes.

PA HB563

Providing for licensing and regulating the practice of music therapy; and making editorial changes.