SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1315, 2165, 4495 PRINTER'S NO. 4796
No. 1113 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY WEBER, ARMSTRONG, BELFANTI, BROWNE, BUNT, CAPPELLI, CIVERA, CLYMER, CORNELL, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, D. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, GEIST, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, JAMES, KOTIK, MARKOSEK, McILHATTAN, R. MILLER, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, B. SMITH, T. STEVENSON, WASHINGTON, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD, LEWIS, HARPER, McGEEHAN, THOMAS, HORSEY AND BENNINGHOFF, APRIL 9, 2003
SENATOR THOMPSON, APPROPRIATIONS, IN SENATE, RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 19, 2004
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," PROVIDING FOR REMITTANCE OF TAXES AS <-- 6 COMPENSATION FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY A CITY OF THE 7 SECOND CLASS; AND directing school districts to establish 8 policies regarding student possession and self-administration 9 of certain asthma medications. 10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 11 hereby enacts as follows: 12 Section 1. Section 1401 of the act of March 10, 1949 <-- 13 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is 14 amended by adding a clause to read: 15 SECTION 1. SECTION 652.1 OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 <-- 16 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, 17 AMENDED JUNE 25, 1982 (P.L.643, NO.182), IS AMENDED TO READ:
1 SECTION 652.1. TAXING POWER OF ELECTED BOARD OF PUBLIC 2 EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE FIRST CLASS A.--(A) THE 3 ELECTED BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE 4 FIRST CLASS A SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE TAXES FOR THE 5 PURPOSES OF SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS: 6 (1) WITHOUT ORDINANCE AND UNDER THE FOLLOWING STATUTES THEIR 7 REENACTMENTS AND AMENDMENTS, AT THE RATES FIXED THEREIN, NAMELY: 8 (I) [ACT OF JUNE 20, 1947 (P.L.745, NO.320), (MERCANTILE 9 LICENSE TAX)] (RESERVED), 10 (II) ACT OF JUNE 20, 1947 (P.L.733, NO.319), (PERSONAL 11 PROPERTY TAX), 12 (III) ACT OF AUGUST 24, 1961 (P.L.1135, NO.508), (INCOME 13 TAX), 14 (IV) REAL PROPERTY TAX ACTS: 15 ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), 11.75 MILLS, 16 ACT OF NOVEMBER 30, 1955 (P.L.793, NO.226), 1.5 MILLS, 17 ACT OF JULY 12, 1957 (P.L.837, NO.386), .75 MILLS, 18 ACT OF NOVEMBER 19, 1959 (P.L.1552, NO.557), 2 MILLS, 19 ACT OF OCTOBER 21, 1965 (P.L.650, NO.321), 1 MILL, 20 ACT OF NOVEMBER 26, 1968 (P.L.1098, NO.340), 6 MILLS, 21 ACT OF DECEMBER 15, 1975 (P.L.483, NO.143), 6 MILLS. 22 (2) (I) IN ADDITION TO THE TAXING AUTHORITY SET FORTH IN 23 THE ACT OF AUGUST 24, 1961 (P.L.1135, NO.508), (INCOME TAX), BY 24 ORDINANCE, A TAX OF ONE PER CENTUM (1%) ON WAGES, SALARIES, 25 COMMISSIONS AND OTHER EARNED INCOME OF INDIVIDUALS: PROVIDED, 26 HOWEVER, THAT THE TOTAL TAX LEVIED UNDER THE ACT OF AUGUST 24, 27 1961 (P.L.1135, NO.508) AND THE TOTAL TAX LEVIED UNDER THIS 28 SUBSECTION ON WAGES, SALARIES, COMMISSIONS AND OTHER EARNED 29 INCOME OF INDIVIDUALS MAY EQUAL BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO PER 30 CENTUM (2%). 20030H1113B4796 - 2 -
1 (II) A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE FIRST CLASS A LOCATED IN WHOLE 2 OR IN PART WITHIN A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS SHALL SHARE THE 3 EARNED INCOME TAX UNDER THIS SECTION WITH SUCH CITY OF THE 4 SECOND CLASS AS FOLLOWS: IN TAX YEAR 2007, ONE-TENTH OF ONE PER 5 CENTUM (0.1%) TO THE CITY; IN TAX YEAR 2008, TWO-TENTHS OF ONE 6 PER CENTUM (0.2%) TO THE CITY; IN TAX YEAR 2009 AND THEREAFTER, 7 ONE-QUARTER OF ONE PER CENTUM (0.25%) TO THE CITY. 8 (3) IN ADDITION TO THE TAXING AUTHORITY SET FORTH IN THE 9 REAL PROPERTY TAX ACTS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 652.1(A)(1)(IV), 10 BY ORDINANCE A TAX, SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S 11 ANTICIPATED EXPENSES ON EACH DOLLAR OF THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT OF 12 ALL PROPERTY ASSESSED AND CERTIFIED FOR TAXATION IN THE 13 TERRITORY CONSTITUTING THE DISTRICT. 14 (4) IN ADDITION THERETO, BY ORDINANCE ON ANY PERSONS, 15 TRANSACTIONS, OCCUPATIONS, PRIVILEGES, SUBJECTS AND REAL OR 16 PERSONAL PROPERTY AS THEY SHALL DETERMINE NOT PROHIBITED BY 17 SECTION 2 OF THE ACT OF DECEMBER 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, NO.511), 18 KNOWN AS "THE LOCAL TAX ENABLING ACT" AND NOT SPECIFICALLY 19 EXCLUDED UNDER PARAGRAPH (5) HEREOF; EVEN IF THE ORDINANCE 20 IMPOSING SUCH TAX OR TAXES IS DUPLICATIVE OF THE TAXES 21 ENUMERATED IN SECTION 652.1(A)(1); BUT NO ORDINANCE SHALL 22 AUTHORIZE THE IMPOSITION OF A TAX ON THE WAGES, SALARY OR NET 23 INCOME OF ANY PERSON NOT A RESIDENT OF SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT. 24 (5) NO TAX OF ANY KIND MAY BE IMPOSED ON ADMISSION TO PLACES 25 OF AMUSEMENT, ATHLETIC EVENTS, MOTION PICTURE THEATERS, 26 OCCUPATIONS OR OCCUPATIONAL PRIVILEGE, GROSS RECEIPTS OF 27 BUSINESSES, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONS AND NONPROFIT SERVICES, AND 28 PARKING, BUT THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT APPLY TO TAXES IMPOSED ON 29 THE WHOLE VOLUME OF BUSINESS TRANSACTED BY RETAIL AND WHOLESALE 30 DEALERS IN GOODS, WARES AND MERCHANDISE. 20030H1113B4796 - 3 -
1 (B) ANY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A TAX, OTHER THAN UNDER A 2 STATUTE AND AT THE RATE FIXED THEREBY, SHALL FIX THE RATE 3 THEREOF AND PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY, ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF 4 THE SAME. 5 SECTION 2. SECTION 1401 OF THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A 6 CLAUSE TO READ: 7 Section 1401. Definitions.--As used in this article-- 8 * * * 9 (12) "Asthma inhaler" means a physician-prescribed <-- 10 PRESCRIBED device used for self-administration of physician- <-- 11 prescribed SHORT-ACTING, METERED DOSES OF PRESCRIBED medication <-- 12 to treat asthma AN ACUTE ASTHMA ATTACK. <-- 13 Section 2 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read: <-- 14 Section 1414.1. Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers.--(a) 15 Each school entity shall develop a written policy to allow for 16 the possession and self-administration by a school student <-- 17 CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE of an asthma inhaler and the prescribed <-- 18 medication to be administered thereby in a school setting. 19 (b) The policy under this section shall include a <-- 20 requirement that a student demonstrate the capability for self- 21 administration and for responsible behavior. The school entity 22 shall develop a system whereby the student will verify to the 23 certified school nurse that the student is capable of self- 24 administration REQUIRE A CHILD OF SCHOOL AGE THAT DESIRES TO <-- 25 POSSESS AND SELF-ADMINISTER AN ASTHMA INHALER IN A SCHOOL 26 SETTING TO DEMONSTRATE THE CAPABILITY FOR SELF-ADMINISTRATION 27 AND FOR RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR IN THE USE THEREOF AND TO NOTIFY 28 THE SCHOOL NURSE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EACH USE OF AN ASTHMA 29 INHALER. THE SCHOOL ENTITY SHALL DEVELOP A SYSTEM WHEREBY THE 30 CHILD MAY VERIFY TO THE SCHOOL NURSE THAT THE CHILD IS CAPABLE 20030H1113B4796 - 4 -
1 OF SELF-ADMINISTRATION and has permission for carrying and 2 taking the medication through the use of the asthma inhaler. The 3 school entity shall also restrict the availability of the asthma 4 inhaler and the prescribed medication contained therein from 5 other students CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE, with immediate <-- 6 confiscation of both the asthma inhaler and the medication and 7 loss of privileges if the school policies are abused or ignored. 8 (c) The policy under this section may include the following: 9 (1) The requirement of a written statement from the 10 physician, CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN <-- 11 ASSISTANT that provides the name of the drug, the dose, the 12 times when the medication is to be taken, and the diagnosis or 13 reason the medicine is needed, unless the reason should remain 14 confidential. The physician, CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE <-- 15 PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT shall indicate the potential 16 of any serious reaction that may occur to the medication, as 17 well as any necessary emergency response. The physician, <-- 18 CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT 19 shall state whether the child is qualified and able to self- 20 administer the medication. 21 (2) The requirement of a written request from the parent or 22 guardian that the school entity comply with the physician's <-- 23 order OF THE PHYSICIAN, CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER <-- 24 OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT. The parent's note shall include a 25 statement relieving the school entity or any school employe of 26 any responsibility for the benefits or consequences of the 27 PRESCRIBED medication when it is parent-authorized and <-- 28 physician-prescribed and acknowledging that the school entity 29 bears no responsibility for ensuring that the medication is 30 taken. 20030H1113B4796 - 5 -
1 (3) The ability of the school entity to reserve the right to 2 require a physician statement STATEMENT FROM THE PHYSICIAN, <-- 3 CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT 4 for the continued use of any medication beyond a specified time 5 period. 6 (d) As used in this section, "school entity" means a school 7 district, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school. 8 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. <-- 9 SECTION 4. THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 652.1 OF THE ACT SHALL <-- 10 APPLY TO TAX YEARS COMMENCING ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2005. 11 SECTION 5. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. C13L24MEP/20030H1113B4796 - 6 -