THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GORDNER, PICCOLA, PILEGGI, BAKER, BROWNE, EARLL, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, FERLO, GREENLEAF, LEACH, LOGAN, O'PAKE, ORIE, RAFFERTY, SMUCKER, WASHINGTON, WAUGH AND WONDERLING, MARCH 16, 2009

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 21, 2009   

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," further providing for school

athletics, publications and organizations.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 511(a) of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,

amended April 14, 1949 (P.L.460, No.85), is amended and the

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section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

Section 511.  School Athletics, Publications, and

Organizations.--

(a)  The board of school directors in every school district

shall prescribe, adopt, and enforce such reasonable rules and

regulations as it may deem proper, regarding (1) the management,

supervision, control, or prohibition of exercises, athletics, or

games of any kind, school publications, debating, forensic,

dramatic, musical, and other activities related to the school

program, including raising and disbursing funds for any or all

of such purposes and for scholarships, [and] (2) the

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organization, management, supervision, control, financing, or

prohibition of organizations, clubs, societies and groups of the

members of any class or school, and [may provide for] (3) the

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suspension, dismissal, or other reasonable penalty in the case

of any appointee, professional or other employe, or pupil who

violates any of such rules or regulations. The board shall

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provide for the inclusion in any of these activities any student

who lives within the school district but attends a private or

nonpublic school, who shall be subject to these same rules and

regulations. The board shall provide for the inclusion in any of

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these activities any student who lives within the school

district, attends a private or nonpublic school and elects to

participate in such public school activities that are not

offered by the private or nonpublic school. The student shall be

subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to students

enrolled in the school district relating to such activities.

(a.1)  The board of school directors shall not restrict

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inclusions of a student who lives within the school district but

is enrolled in a charter or cyber charter school, private or

nonpublic school or participating in a home education program,

in an activity in accordance with subsection (a) by making the

activity or converting the activity to be part of the regular

school curriculum or by granting credit toward graduation

requirements for participation. Nothing in this section shall

preclude a school district from providing a public school

student with credit for participation in such activities.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.