Pennsylvania school tip line law

Does Pennsylvania require a school tip line?

Yes. State law sets up the Safe2Say Something Program within the Office of Attorney General (OAG). The Attorney General must run the program and adopt the regulations and guidelines it needs. Since January 14, 2019, the program must provide anonymous reporting of unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activity in a school, or threats of it. Each school entity must develop procedures for assessing and responding to Safe2Say reports. The Safe2Say section was added by Act 44 of 2018, on June 22, 2018.

Who is covered?

For Safe2Say, a "school entity" is a school district, charter school, cyber charter school, private school, nonpublic school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school in Pennsylvania. The threat assessment article uses a narrower list: districts, intermediate units, career and technical schools, and charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, with no private schools.

What must schools do with a tip?

Each school entity must give a final disposition (a closing report on the outcome) of each Safe2Say report within 30 days of receiving it, in the form OAG sets. For a life safety event, the final disposition is due within 48 hours of receiving the report. OAG must post a public list of school entities that have not submitted their final dispositions. The School Safety and Security Committee may not award a grant it runs to a school entity until that school has submitted its final dispositions. School threat assessment teams must help assess and respond to Safe2Say reports. They must also give students age-appropriate materials on how to report concerns, including through Safe2Say Something. The staff member a school names to receive Safe2Say reports may serve on, or be consulted by, its threat assessment team; the law lists this as optional. OAG, with the Department of Education, must set guidelines that schools may use to respond to reports; using them is up to the school.

How are tips routed and followed up?

When a report shows an immediate threat of violence or crime in a school, the program must promptly notify law enforcement through 911 centers and the Pennsylvania State Police. The program must promptly forward other information to the right law enforcement agency, school official or organization, as OAG decides. OAG must work with schools, local police and organizations to identify who will receive reports. The program must follow up to learn the outcome of each report, including what was done about it. According to the program website, the crisis center sends submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement. OAG's annual report says it built the app, website and a Pennsylvania-based 24/7 Crisis Center; that is a description of practice, not a duty in the statute.

What training does the state provide?

The program must train or instruct emergency dispatch centers and school entities on awareness of and response to the program. It must give school entities awareness and education materials. A school-personnel training program added in 2025 must be offered to school entities at no charge.

Are tips anonymous and confidential?

The program must keep a reporter's identity unknown to anyone, including law enforcement officers and OAG employees. If a reporter's identity becomes known other than by their own choice, it may not be disclosed further. Records created or obtained by the program are confidential and are not subject to the Right-to-Know Law (the state public records law). Disclosing a program record in violation of the law is a misdemeanor of the third degree. Staff working for the program may not be compelled to produce a record except by court order.

What happens with a false report?

Knowingly or intentionally making a false report to the program is a misdemeanor of the third degree. If a report is found to be false, information about the student it named may not go into that student's record. The Attorney General may investigate and prosecute false reports.

What data does the state report?

By August 1 each year, OAG must send a program report to the chairs of the legislature's committees named in the law, including the Senate Appropriations Committee. The report must give the total cost to run the program, including staffing, administrative and support costs. Since the 2025 changes, it must also list school entities that have not completed training on receiving, responding to and closing out reports. The School Safety and Security Committee's executive committee reviews data on issues and incidents reported through Safe2Say. OAG's annual report says the program received 26,240 tips in the 2025-2026 school year.

How is it funded?

OAG reports the program's yearly operating cost, covering the crisis center, continuing education and outreach, as $2.5 million. The General Appropriation Act of 2025 gives the Attorney General $2,640,000 "For school safety." The General Appropriation Act of 2026 gives the Attorney General $2,639,000 "For school safety" for fiscal year 2026-27. Neither line names the Safe2Say Something program.

What changed recently?

Act 47 of 2025 was enacted from SB 315 on November 12, 2025. Its Safe2Say changes, including free training, OAG follow-up, the 30-day and 48-hour dispositions, and the noncompliance list and grant bar, took effect 60 days after enactment and have been in force since January 2026. SB 930 of 2025-2026, which would amend the Safe2Say article among other school safety provisions, was referred to the Senate Education Committee on July 10, 2025 and has not moved past it. HB 1903 of 2025-2026, which would amend the Safe2Say article, was referred to the House Education Committee on September 30, 2025 and has not moved past it. SB 1026 of 2025-2026, which would amend the Safe2Say article, was referred to the Senate Education Committee on October 3, 2025 and has not moved past it.