Scott Martin, a senator from Pennsylvania, announced that a new law will require schools to notify parents when weapons are brought onto campus. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
“PA school districts are not required to inform parents or guardians about incidents when a weapon is brought onto school grounds or related activities,” said Martin, Pennsylvania State Senator from 13th District (R). “We passed legislation to change that.”
In 2024, Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 246, which mandates that schools inform parents and staff within 24 hours if a weapon is found on school grounds or during school-sponsored events. According to the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats, the bill addresses a gap in current law that does not require community-wide notification in such instances. This legislation is part of a broader school safety reform package aimed at enhancing transparency and response protocols.
Current regulations in Pennsylvania require schools to notify the parents or guardians of students directly involved in incidents involving weapons, whether as victims or offenders. Title 22 of the Pennsylvania Code, Section 10.25, stipulates that this notification must occur promptly and include information on whether law enforcement has been contacted. However, schools are not required to alert all parents or staff unless the situation escalates.
During the 2023–24 academic year, Pennsylvania public schools reported 78,639 safety incidents, including 16,345 incidents involving law enforcement. According to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s 2024 K–12 Threat Assessment Guidelines, this represented a decline from the previous year when over 86,000 total incidents were recorded. The data suggest a stabilization in school threats following post-pandemic fluctuations.
Martin has served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate since 2016, representing the 13th District. His official Senate biography states that he has championed school safety initiatives such as the Safe2Say Something program and a statewide school safety grant fund. In 2023, he introduced a resolution to assess these safety measures’ impact and recommend improvements.
The Pennsylvania State Senate was formed in 1791 and serves as the upper house of the General Assembly with legislative authority over education policy. According to Ballotpedia, it comprises 50 senators elected to staggered four-year terms and holds responsibilities including school funding and safety regulations. The chamber’s Education Committee plays a central role in shaping public school initiatives.
