FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Victoria Martin
vmartin@payouthcongress.org
Phone: 717-743-1035
The PASS Partnership Announces Growing Support
of Statewide Anti-Bullying Bill;
PASS Act Day of Action to take place April 25th in the state capitol
HARRISBURG, PA – Advocates in support of the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act (PASS Act – HB 156) will hold a statewide Day of Action on Thursday, April 25th based in the State Capitol. Students will attend a House Education Committee hearing on bullying and meet with legislators about the importance of the bill’s adoption. The PASS Partnership, the network of community stakeholders supporting the legislation, will join the bill’s prime sponsor Rep. Dan Truitt (R-156) for a press conference immediately following the hearing. More information on the event and registration is available on the PASS Act website at pasafeschoolsact.com.
The PASS Act will provide critical updates to Pennsylvania’s vague and antiquated safe schools law. The legislation establishes a reporting mechanism for incidents of bullying, effective tools to address incidents of school violence, and training for educators to prevent harassment. In 2011, the US Department of Education found that Pennsylvania has one of the weakest anti-bullying laws in the nation. The PASS Partnership has united leading educational organizations, disabilities rights groups, and violence prevention centers in the commonwealth to press the legislature to address school violence.
To further support the bill, a quickly growing network of local government leaders have signed onto the Mayors for Safe Schools statement – whose newest members include the mayors of Chambersburg, Carbondale, Wesleyville, Hanover, and Indiana.
Today, the PASS Partnership is announcing the formation of Clergy for Safe Schools. Faith leaders across various religious denominations have signed a clear statement in support of the PASS Act. The open letter will be delivered directly to House Education Committee Chairman Paul Clymer (R-145) to ask him to run this bill in his committee as a matter of conscience. The PASS Act has over 70 cosponsors.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly has a moral responsibility to address school violence. Without effective intervention, bullying can lead to escalated forms of aggressive behavior, and further psychological damage to victims. While the legislature is currently debating over issues regarding the Second Amendment, they have a golden opportunity to address the fundamental way in which violent behavior develops in young people.
The PASS Partnership invites all supporters of this legislation to attend the PASS Act Day of Action. To find out more information on participating in the event please visit pasafeschoolsact.com.
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