PRINTER'S NO. 584
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
546
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY McILHINNEY, RAFFERTY, MENSCH AND DiSANTO,
MARCH 24, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 24, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
providing for film approval by parent or guardian and
imposing a penalty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1528. Film Approval by Parent or Guardian.--(a)
Prior to displaying, as part of a school entity's educational
program, a motion picture rated "R" or "NC-17" by the Motion
Picture Association of America, a school entity shall notify and
obtain written consent from the parents or guardians of each
student enrolled in the course in which the motion picture is to
be displayed. If a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in
the course in which the motion picture is to be displayed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
objects or fails to provide written consent to the display of
the motion picture, the school entity may not display the motion
picture during the current school year.
(b) School entities shall retain consent forms for two (2)
years following their submission.
(c) A school entity that willfully fails to comply with this
section commits a violation of this act. The Department of
Education shall have jurisdiction to determine violations of
this section and may, following a hearing, assess a civil
penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000). The civil penalty
shall be payable to the Commonwealth.
(d) As used in this section, the term "school entity" means
a public school, intermediate unit, area vocational-technical
school or charter school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170SB0546PN0584 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15