THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, BROWNLEE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DAVIS, DeLUCA, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, HENNESSEY, MAHONEY, MANN, MIRABITO, PAYTON, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, VULAKOVICH, YOUNGBLOOD AND KORTZ, MARCH 17, 2011

AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JUNE 29, 2012   

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 the Office for

Safe Schools; in high schools, providing for wearing of

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military uniform at graduation ceremony; and, in State Board

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of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the

board.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1302-A(b) of the act of March 10, 1949

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

amended by adding a paragraph to read:

Section 1302-A.  Office for Safe Schools.--* * *

(b)  The office shall have the power and duty to implement

the following:

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(8)  To develop telephone hotlines and Internet notification

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systems ensuring anonymity to be used by students, parents,

teachers, school employes and members of the community to report

potential or actual violence or possession of weapons on school

property.

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Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

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Section 1616.  Wearing of Military Uniform at Graduation

Ceremony.--A student shall have the right to wear a dress

uniform issued to the student by a branch of the United States

Armed Forces while participating in the graduation ceremony for

the student's high school if that student meets the following

requirements:

(1)  The student has fulfilled all of the requirements for

receiving a high school diploma in this Commonwealth and is

otherwise eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.

(2)  The student has completed basic training for, and is an

active member of, a branch of the United States Armed Forces.

Section 3.  Section 2603-B(h) of the act, added March 30,

1988 (P.L.321, No.43), is amended to read:

Section 2603-B.  Powers and Duties of the Board.--* * *

(h)  Every five (5) years, the board shall adopt a master

plan for higher education which shall be for the guidance of the

Governor, the General Assembly, and all institutions of higher

education financed wholly or in part from State appropriations.

The master plan shall:

[(1)  define the role of each type of institution (State-

owned universities, State-related universities, community

colleges, private colleges and universities and off-campus

centers of any of these and other institutions authorized to

grant degrees) in this Commonwealth;

(2)  recommend enrollment levels for each such institution;

(3)  recommend methods for governance;

(4)  recommend methods for the distribution of State funds

among the institutions;

(5)  evaluate the status of physical plants and technical

equipment and project needs;

(6)  evaluate the status of and projection of manpower needs;

(7)  evaluate enrollment accessibility to institutions of

higher learning by the public; and

(8)  otherwise provide for an orderly development of

institutions of higher education in this Commonwealth.]

(1)  describe the current higher education landscape in this

Commonwealth;

(2)  identify unmet needs and gaps with regard to career

fields and geographic and financial access;

(3)  identify emerging higher education issues and recommend

strategies and options designed to address the issues;

(4)  identify gaps and opportunities for collaboration with

basic education, work force development programs, economic

development and other related systems; and

(5)  outline a plan for action by the board to revise or

update its higher education regulations.

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Section 2 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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