Regular Session 2015-2016 House Bill 0620 P.N. 0690

PRINTER'S NO. 690

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

620

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY SIMMONS, CAUSER, BAKER, BISHOP, BARRAR,

CALTAGIRONE, BROWNLEE, STEPHENS, GRELL, KORTZ, KAUFFMAN,

DAVIS, WATSON, MACKENZIE, DeLUCA, MURT, ROZZI, GINGRICH,

READSHAW, GILLEN, EVANKOVICH, HARHART, TOOHIL, V. BROWN,

R. BROWN, HELM AND DAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

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," in transportation of pupils, further

providing for website link for when transportation provided.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 1361 of the act of March 10, 1949

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

amended May 11, 1979 (P.L.26, No.7), is amended to read:

Section 1361. When Provided.--(1) The board of school

directors in any school district may, out of the funds of the

district, provide for the free transportation of any resident

pupil to and from the kindergarten, elementary school, or

secondary school in which he is lawfully enrolled, provided that

such school is not operated for profit and is located within the

district boundaries or outside the district boundaries at a

distance not exceeding ten miles by the nearest public highway,

except that such ten-mile limit shall not apply to area

vocational technical schools which regularly serve eligible

district pupils or to special schools and classes approved by

the Department of Education, and to and from any points within

or without the Commonwealth in order to provide field trips for

any purpose connected with the educational pursuits of the

pupils. When provision is made by a board of school directors

for the transportation of public school pupils to and from such

schools or to and from any points within or without the

Commonwealth in order to provide field trips as herein provided,

the board of school directors shall also make identical

provision for the free transportation of pupils who regularly

attend nonpublic kindergarten, elementary and high schools not

operated for profit to and from such schools or to and from any

points within or without the Commonwealth in order to provide

field trips as herein provided. Such transportation of pupils

attending nonpublic schools shall be provided during regular

school hours on such dates and periods that the nonpublic school

not operated for profit is in regular session, according to the

school calendar officially adopted by the directors of the same

in accordance with provisions of law. The board of school

directors shall provide such transportation whenever so required

by any of the provisions of this act or of any other act of

Assembly.

(2) The board of school directors in any school district

may, if the board deems it to the best interest of the school

district, for the purposes of transporting pupils as required or

authorized by any of the provisions of this act or of any other

act of the Assembly, appropriate funds for urban common carrier

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mass transportation purposes from current revenues to urban

common carrier mass transportation authorities to assist the

authorities to meet costs of operation, maintenance, capital

improvements, and debt service. Said contributions shall not be

subject to reimbursement by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(3) In any school district where transportation is provided,

the school district shall provide a link to the Megan's Law

website under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.28 (relating to public Internet

website) on any communication related to transportation

distributed to students, parents or the public.

(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt regulations,

including qualifications of school bus drivers, to govern the

transportation of school pupils.

(5) A school entity shall, on its publicly accessible

Internet website, regardless of whether the school entity

transports students, provide a link to the Megan's Law website

under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.28. The link shall be prominently

displayed on the school entity's home page. For purposes of this

clause, "school entity" shall include a school district, charter

school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area

vocational-technical school.

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

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