PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 955

PRINTER'S NO.  978

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

871

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY BRUBAKER, PICCOLA, PILEGGI, FOLMER, EICHELBERGER, ALLOWAY, WAUGH, ERICKSON, D. WHITE, HUGHES AND YAW, MARCH 31, 2011

  

  

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 5, 2011   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

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act relating to the public school system, including certain

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provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

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schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

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laws relating thereto," further providing for continuing

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professional development and for program of continuing

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professional development.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 1205.1 of the act of March 10, 1949

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

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amended by adding a subsection to read:

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Section 1205.1.  Continuing Professional Development.--* * *

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(f)  Beginning on the effective date of this subsection, the

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requirements under this section shall be suspended until June

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30, 2013.

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Section 2.  Section 1205.2(a) and (f) of the act, amended

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July 13, 2005 (P.L.226, No.46) and February 2, 2006 (P.L.19,

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No.5), are amended and the section is amended by adding a

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subsection to read:

 


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Section 1205.2.  Program of Continuing Professional

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Education.--(a)  A continuing professional education program is

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hereby established for professional educators, the satisfactory

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completion of which is required to maintain active

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certification. Except as provided in subsection [(j.1)] (n.1),

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the continuing professional education program shall require the

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satisfactory completion of continuing professional education

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every five (5) years, which shall include:

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(1)  six (6) credits of collegiate study;

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(2)  six (6) credits of continuing professional education

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courses;

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(3)  one hundred eighty (180) hours of continuing

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professional education programs, activities or learning

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experiences; or

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(4)  any combination of collegiate studies, continuing

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professional education courses, or other programs, activities or

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learning experiences equivalent to one hundred eighty (180)

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hours.

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* * *

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(f)  [The] Except as provided in subsection (n.1), the 

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department shall annually provide a minimum of forty (40) hours

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of continuing professional education courses, programs,

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activities or learning experiences at no charge to professional

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educators. In providing these courses, the department shall seek

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to use the most efficient and cost-effective means possible,

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including the use of advanced technology such as CD-ROM, the

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Internet and distance communication.

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* * *

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(n.1)  Beginning on the effective date of this subsection,

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the requirements under subsections (a) and (f) shall be

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suspended until June 30, 2013. During that time, the Legislative

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Budget and Finance Committee shall conduct a study of the costs

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and benefits of the continuing professional education program.

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On July 1, 2013, each professional educator shall have the same

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number of hours of continuing professional education and the

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same amount of time in which to complete those hours as existed

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for the professional educator on the effective date of this

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subsection; provided, however, that any continuing professional

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education credits or hours completed by a professional educator

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during the period of suspension under this subsection shall be

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credited to the professional educator's continuing professional

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education record.

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* * *

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Section 3.  Nothing in this act shall be construed to

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supersede or preempt any provision of a collective bargaining

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agreement relating to continuing professional development

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negotiated by a school entity and an exclusive representative of

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the employees in accordance with the act of July 23, 1970

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(P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act,

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which is in effect on the effective date of this section.

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Section 3 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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