PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1248, 2631 PRINTER'S NO. 2799
No. 1068 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, ARMSTRONG, BEBKO-JONES, BROWNE, BUNT,
CLYMER, COY, CREIGHTON, FICHTER, GRUCELA, HARHART, HERMAN,
HESS, LEACH, McILHATTAN, R. MILLER, NAILOR, NICKOL, PHILLIPS,
RUBLEY, SCAVELLO, STAIRS, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WASHINGTON,
WILT, LEWIS, HARPER, HERSHEY, THOMAS AND HORSEY,
APRIL 7, 2003
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OCTOBER 15, 2003
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," FURTHER PROVIDING FOR POWERS AND <--
6 DUTIES OF THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; providing
7 FOR FIREFIGHTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICE TRAINING AS CREDITABLE <--
8 HIGH SCHOOL COURSES AND FOR State reimbursement for mobile
9 classroom facilities; and making editorial changes.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. Section 2574(a) of the act of March 10, 1949 <--
13 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
14 amended September 29, 1959 (P.L.992, No.407), is amended to
15 read:
16 SECTION 1. SECTION 914-A(5) OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 <--
17 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, ADDED
18 MAY 4, 1970 (P.L.311, NO.102), IS AMENDED TO READ:
19 SECTION 914-A. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT
1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.--AN INTERMEDIATE UNIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2 SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND ITS DUTY SHALL BE:
3 * * *
4 (5) TO ADOPT A PROGRAM OF SERVICES. EACH INTERMEDIATE UNIT
5 MAY PROVIDE, BUT SHALL, EXCEPT AS HEREINAFTER PROVIDED, BE
6 LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: (I) CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
7 AND INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT SERVICES; (II) EDUCATIONAL
8 PLANNING SERVICES; (III) INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS SERVICES; (IV)
9 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES; (V) PUPIL PERSONNEL
10 SERVICES; (VI) STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCY LIAISON SERVICES; AND
11 (VII) MANAGEMENT SERVICES. EACH ADDITIONAL SERVICE TO BE
12 PROVIDED SHALL BE FIRST APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF ALL THE BOARDS
13 OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS COMPRISING THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT AT A
14 MEETING CALLED BY THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
15 THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF APPROVING OR DISAPPROVING ANY SUCH
16 ADDITIONAL SERVICE. EACH INTERMEDIATE UNIT MAY PROVIDE FOR THE
17 FURNISHING OF ANY OF THE SERVICES MENTIONED IN THIS CLAUSE OR
18 ELSEWHERE IN THIS ACT TO NONPUBLIC, NONPROFIT SCHOOLS WHICH
19 SCHOOLS ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO CONTRACT FOR AND PURCHASE
20 SERVICES FROM INTERMEDIATE UNITS SO AS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
21 INTERMEDIATE PROGRAM. AN INTERMEDIATE UNIT MAY PROVIDE SOFTWARE,
22 DATA PROCESSING AND RELATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED
23 WITH SUBPARAGRAPHS (V), (VI) AND (VII) TO ONLY THOSE SCHOOL
24 DISTRICTS WHICH ARE BOTH SERVED BY THAT INTERMEDIATE UNIT AS SET
25 FORTH IN SECTION 902-A AND WHICH HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED
26 SUCH SERVICES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
27 * * *
28 SECTION 2. THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
29 SECTION 1550. FIREFIGHTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICE TRAINING.--
30 (A) FIREFIGHTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICE TRAINING MAY BE ADDED TO
20030H1068B2799 - 2 -
1 HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA AS CREDIT-EARNING COURSES.
2 (B) THE COURSES MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLY TO STUDENTS
3 SIXTEEN (16) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND MAY INCLUDE:
4 (1) TRAINING AS A FIREFIGHTER I FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD OF
5 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.
6 (2) TRAINING AS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN BY THE
7 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UNDER THE ACT OF JULY 3, 1985 (P.L.164,
8 NO.45), KNOWN AS THE "EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT."
9 (C) ANY PERSON WHO PROVIDES TRAINING UNDER THIS SECTION AND
10 WHO HAS DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS RECEIVING TRAINING SHALL BE
11 SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 111.
12 (D) IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDS FIREFIGHTER AND EMERGENCY
13 SERVICE TRAINING AS CREDIT-EARNING COURSES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
14 SHALL PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND SUPERVISION FOR FIREFIGHTER AND
15 EMERGENCY SERVICE TRAINING THAT TAKES PLACE OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS.
16 SUPERVISION OF TRAINING SHALL BE CONDUCTED AS A COOPERATIVE
17 EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 22 PA.
18 CODE § 11.28 (RELATING TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS) OR ANY
19 REGULATION PROMULGATED SUBSEQUENTLY TO REPLACE THAT SECTION.
20 SECTION 3. SECTION 2574(A) OF THE ACT, AMENDED SEPTEMBER 29,
21 1959 (P.L.992, NO.407), IS AMENDED TO READ:
22 Section 2574. Approved Reimbursable Rental for Leases
23 Hereafter Approved and Approved Reimbursable Sinking Fund
24 Charges on Indebtedness.--(a) For school building projects for
25 which the general construction contract is awarded subsequent to
26 March 22, 1956, and for approved school building projects for
27 which the general construction contract was awarded but for
28 which a lease was not approved by the Department of [Public
29 Instruction] Education prior to March 22, 1956, the Department
30 of [Public Instruction] Education shall calculate an approved
20030H1068B2799 - 3 -
1 reimbursable rental or approved reimbursable sinking fund
2 charges. Reimbursable sinking fund charges may include charges
3 for temporary indebtedness within constitutional limitations, if
4 the indebtedness is incurred for approved [permanent]
5 improvements to the school plant including the cost of acquiring
6 a suitable site for a school building, the cost of constructing
7 a new school building, or the cost of providing needed additions
8 or alterations to existing buildings for which no bond issue is
9 provided and for which an approved obligation or obligations
10 other than bonds have been issued and the obligation or
11 obligations are payable within five (5) years from the date of
12 issue of the obligation in equal annual installments. As used in
13 this section, "building" shall include a permanent structure
14 that contains or is attached to relocatable or modular
15 classrooms. The term "relocatable or modular classroom" shall
16 mean a classroom not of a permanent nature which meets the
17 criteria and specifications of the Department of Education.
18 Approved reimbursable rental or sinking fund charge shall
19 consist of that part of the annual rental or sinking fund charge
20 attributable to--
21 (1) The cost of acquiring the land upon which the school
22 buildings are situate, the cost of necessary rough grading to
23 permit proper placement of the building upon said land and the
24 cost of sewage treatment plants, as required by the Department
25 of Health, to the extent that such costs are deemed reasonable
26 by the Department of [Public Instruction] Education and the
27 interest on such costs of acquisition, grading and sewage
28 treatment plants earned subsequent to date the construction
29 contract is awarded, and
30 (2) The approved building construction cost and the interest
20030H1068B2799 - 4 -
1 on such construction cost.
2 * * *
3 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. <--
4 SECTION 4. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS FOLLOWS: <--
5 (1) THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 2574(A) OF THE ACT SHALL
6 TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
7 (2) THE REMAINDER OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT
8 IMMEDIATELY.
C12L24JLW/20030H1068B2799 - 5 -