PRINTER'S NO. 2354
No. 1816 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY CASORIO, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI, CAPPELLI,
L. I. COHEN, CRUZ, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARHAI,
HERMAN, JAMES, JOSEPHS, MELIO, MUNDY, PETRARCA, PISTELLA,
PRESTON, ROONEY, SAINATO, SOLOBAY, STABACK, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO,
TRELLO, TRICH, J. WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JUNE 21, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 21, 2001
AN ACT
1 Providing for a grant program for background checks of
2 individuals who volunteer for an overnight public school
3 activity; and imposing powers and duties on the Pennsylvania
4 Department of Education and the Secretary of Education.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Public School
9 Background Check Relief Fund.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Background check." As provided under section 111 of the act
15 of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School
16 Code of 1949.
17 "Department." The Department of Education of the
1 Commonwealth.
2 "Eligible school." A public school providing educational
3 services to students in kindergarten through grade 6, or any
4 combination of grades within the traditional elementary school
5 grade levels.
6 "Overnight activity." A social or educational activity
7 sponsored by a public school in which its students spend one or
8 more nights away from their private homes. Sporting activities
9 are excluded from this definition.
10 "Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
11 "Volunteer." An individual who assists with the care and
12 protection of students without compensation, excluding
13 reimbursements.
14 Section 3. Establishment.
15 Beginning with the fiscal year 2001-2002 and in each fiscal
16 year thereafter, the department shall provide grants to public
17 schools for the purpose of obtaining background checks on
18 volunteers who participate in overnight activities with students
19 of the school.
20 Section 4. Grant eligibility.
21 All Pennsylvania school districts shall be eligible for a
22 grant award so long as its volunteers are at least 18 years of
23 age.
24 Section 5. Application procedure.
25 The department shall develop a written application form to be
26 distributed to eligible schools.
27 Section 6. Use of grant funds.
28 Grant funds shall be used for costs incurred by a school
29 district for background checks on volunteers.
30 Section 7. Rules and regulations.
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1 The department shall promulgate further rules and regulations
2 necessary to administer the program.
3 Section 8. Effective date.
4 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001, or immediately,
5 whichever is later.
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