PRINTER'S NO. 2577
No. 1946 Session of 1984
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, BUNT, BELOFF, DEAL, PISTELLA, FREIND, COY,
HALUSKA, SEMMEL, TRELLO, FISCHER, BALDWIN, MICOZZIE, JOHNSON,
HAGARTY, CAWLEY, TIGUE AND BELARDI, FEBRUARY 21, 1984
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 21, 1984
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 the voluntary
6 fingerprinting of certain school children.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11 section to read:
12 Section 1422.1. Voluntary Fingerprinting of Certain School
13 Children.--(a) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State
14 Police shall provide a program for the training of school
15 personnel for the purpose of voluntary fingerprinting of pupils
16 in any grades from kindergarten through six. Upon completion of
17 such training prescribed by the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania
18 State Police, such school personnel may take fingerprints
19 pursuant to this section.
1 (b) Public and private school officials shall designate
2 those persons who shall receive the fingerprinting training and
3 shall provide the facilities and any other personnel required to
4 assist in the fingerprinting process.
5 (c) Each school shall provide a form authorizing a pupil's
6 participation in the fingerprinting program upon the signature
7 of the pupil's parent or guardian. No pupil shall be
8 fingerprinted unless a signed authorization form is in the
9 possession of school officials.
10 (d) School officials shall notify the parents or guardians
11 of eligible pupils of the date set for the fingerprinting
12 program at least two weeks prior thereto. For the purposes of
13 this subsection, "eligible pupils" means pupils who have not
14 been fingerprinted previously pursuant to this section.
15 (e) Fingerprinting pursuant to this section shall be done on
16 a fingerprint card provided by the school with the form thereof
17 approved by the Commissioner of State Police. In addition to
18 fingerprints, the card shall contain the following information:
19 name, address, race, sex, date of birth, birthplace, height,
20 weight, color of hair, color of eyes, complexion, scars and the
21 name of the parent or guardian of the pupil.
22 (f) The completed fingerprint card shall be given to the
23 pupil's parent or guardian and to no other person. Except for
24 the exclusive use of identifying missing or runaway children, no
25 person shall give, disclose or surrender the completed
26 fingerprint card or portions thereof or a duplicate of said card
27 or portions thereof to any other person. This subsection shall
28 not apply to the giving, disclosing or surrendering of said card
29 or duplicate or portions thereof to any immediate family member
30 of the pupil.
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1 (g) Any person who violates subsection (f) shall be guilty
2 of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more
3 than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than
4 sixty (60) days or both.
5 Section 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 1984.
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