PRINTER'S NO. 4209
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2704
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY C. QUINN, BARRAR, SANTORA, MENTZER AND YOUNGBLOOD,
OCTOBER 10, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, OCTOBER 10, 2018
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," establishing the Digital Protection
School Safety Account; and providing for duties of school
entities and the department.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIII-E
DIGITAL PROTECTION SCHOOL SAFETY ACCOUNT
Section 1301-E. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The Digital Protection School Safety Restricted
Revenue Account established under section 1302-E.
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"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, area
vocational-technical school, charter school, cyber charter
school or regional charter school.
Section 1302-E. Establishment of account.
(a) Establishment.-- The Digital Protection School Safety
Restricted Revenue Account is established as a restricted
revenue account within the General Fund. The following shall be
deposited into the account:
(1) Money collected by the Department of Revenue and
designated for school safety initiatives.
(2) Money allocated to the account by the General
Assembly.
(3) Voluntary contributions to the account.
(4) Interest generated from the money in the account.
(b) Appropriations.--Money in the account is appropriated to
the department on a continuing basis for distribution to school
entities for the purposes specified under section 1303-E.
(c) Administration.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
department may coordinate with a State agency or
nongovernmental organization as necessary to distribute the
money in the account for the purposes specified under section
1303-E.
(2) The department may not enter into an agreement or
contract with a State agency or nongovernmental organization
for staffing functions regarding the distribution of money in
the account for the purposes specified under section 1303-E.
Section 1303-E. Duties of school entities.
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A school entity shall use the money received under section
1302-E(b) to implement school safety and violence prevention
measures through the use of security-related equipment and
training, including any of the following:
(1) Student, staff and visitor identification systems.
(2) Metal detectors.
(3) Protective lighting.
(4) Surveillance equipment.
(5) Special emergency communications equipment.
(6) Electronic locksets.
(7) Deadbolts and theft control devices.
(8) Training in the use of the security-related
technology.
(9) Other one-time school safety and violence prevention
measures approved by the department.
Section 1304-E. Duties of department.
(a) Submission.--By July 30, 2019, and each July 30
thereafter, the department shall submit an annual report on the
status of the account to all of the following:
(1) The chair and minority chair of the Appropriations
Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chair and minority chair of the Education
Committee of the Senate.
(3) The chair and minority chair of the Appropriations
Committee of the House of Representatives.
(4) The chair and minority chair of the Education
Committee of the House of Representatives.
(b) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall include
information on all of the following:
(1) The total amount of money distributed from the
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account in the prior year to each school entity.
(2) The use of the money distributed from the account
and the cost for each school safety and violence prevention
measure.
(3) The participation by a State agency or
nongovernmental organization as authorized under section
1302-E(c).
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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