THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DePASQUALE, TALLMAN, BOYD, B. BOYLE, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DeLUCA, FREEMAN, GABLER, HORNAMAN, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, PYLE, SACCONE AND STURLA, MAY 24, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 24, 2011  

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 prohibited

religious garb, insignia, etc. and penalty.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1112 of the act of March 10, 1949

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

repealed:

[Section 1112.  Religious Garb, Insignia, etc., Prohibited;

Penalty.--(a)  That no teacher in any public school shall wear

in said school or while engaged in the performance of his duty

as such teacher any dress, mark, emblem or insignia indicating

the fact that such teacher is a member or adherent of any

religious order, sect or denomination.

(b)  Any teacher employed in any of the public schools of

this Commonwealth, who violates the provisions of this section,

shall be suspended from employment in such school for the term

of one year, and in case of a second offense by the same teacher

he shall be permanently disqualified from teaching in said

school. Any public school director who after notice of any such

violation fails to comply with the provisions of this section

shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction of the

first offense, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding

one hundred dollars ($100), and on conviction of a second

offense, the offending school director shall be sentenced to pay

a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) and shall be

deprived of his office as a public school director. A person

thus twice convicted shall not be eligible to appointment or

election as a director of any public school in this Commonwealth

within a period of five (5) years from the date of his second

conviction.]

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