THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GIBBONS, DALEY, JAMES, PARKER, READSHAW AND WILLIAMS, AUGUST 23, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, AUGUST 23, 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 campus police

powers and duties.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 2019-A(a) of the act of March 10, 1949

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

December 23, 2003 (P.L.304, No.48), is amended to read:

Section 2019-A.  Campus Police Powers and Duties.--(a)

Campus police of an institution shall have the power and their

duty shall be:

(1)  to enforce good order on the grounds and in the

buildings of the institution;

(2)  to protect the grounds and buildings of the institution;

(3)  to exclude all disorderly persons from the grounds and

buildings of the institution;

(4)  to adopt means necessary for the performance of their

duties;

(5)  to exercise the same powers as are now or may hereafter

be exercised under authority of law or ordinance by the police

of the municipalities wherein the institution is located,

including, but not limited to, those powers conferred pursuant

to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D (relating to municipal police

jurisdiction);

(6)  to prevent crime, investigate criminal acts, apprehend,

arrest and charge criminal offenders and issue summary citations

for acts committed on the grounds of the institution and carry

the criminal offenders before the proper district justice and

prefer charges against them under the laws of this Commonwealth.

Except when acting pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D,

campus police shall exercise these powers and perform these

duties only on the grounds of the institution. For the purposes

of applying the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D, the

grounds and within five hundred (500) yards of the grounds of

the institution shall constitute the primary jurisdiction of the

campus police[.];

(7)  to order off the grounds and out of the buildings of the

institution all trespassers and persons under the influence of

alcohol or controlled substances and, if necessary, remove them

by force and, in case of resistance, carry them before a

district justice; and

(8)  to arrest any person who damages, mutilates or destroys

the property of the institution or commits any other offense,

including threats or acts of terrorism, on the grounds and in

the buildings of the institution and carry that person before

the proper district justice and prefer charges against that

person under the laws of this Commonwealth.

* * *

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