PRINTER'S NO. 3294
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2279
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, RYAN, CIRESI AND DeLUCA,
FEBRUARY 18, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
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 district superintendents and
assistant district superintendents, further providing for
business administrator and providing for qualifications of
business administrator.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1089 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 1089. Business Administrator.--* * *
(e.1) A person serving as business administrator or in an
equivalent position shall serve as a member of the school
entity's leadership team.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1089.1. Qualifications of Business Administrator.--
(a) A school entity may not hire an individual to serve as a
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business administrator or in an equivalent position under
section 1089 unless the individual meets the minimum
qualifications under this section.
(b) Except as provided under subsection (c) an individual
hired as a business administrator or in an equivalent position
after the effective date of this section shall have a minimum of
a baccalaureate degree with at least twelve (12) credit hours in
accounting, finance, economics, management or other subject
relevant to the financial or management functions of a business
administrator position.
(c) The following shall apply:
(1) If an individual possesses a baccalaureate degree but
the degree requirements did not include twelve (12) credit hours
in a relevant subject as required under subsection (b), a school
entity may hire the individual as a business administrator or in
an equivalent position provided either:
(i) the individual agrees to obtain twelve (12) credit hours
in accounting, finance, economics, management or other subject
relevant to the financial or management functions of the
business administrator position within eighteen (18) months from
the individual's hiring date; or
(ii) the individual has at least three (3) years of
experience working in school business in a school entity.
(2) If an individual does not possess a baccalaureate
degree, a school entity may hire the individual as business
administrator or in an equivalent position provided either:
(i) the individual agrees to obtain a baccalaureate degree
that includes twelve (12) credit hours in accounting, finance,
economics, management or other subject relevant to the financial
or management functions of the business administrator position
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within sixty (60) months from the individual's hiring date; or
(ii) the individual has at least ten (10) years of
experience working in school business in a school entity.
(3) An individual employed as a business administrator or in
an equivalent position prior to the effective date of this
section who does not possess a baccalaureate degree or five (5)
years of experience working in school business in a school
entity are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(d) An individual hired as a business administrator or in an
equivalent position after the effective date of this section
with less than five (5) years of experience with a school entity
shall be required to earn twenty (20) continuing education units
or twenty (20) continuing professional education hours in school
accounting, budgeting, debt, reporting, financial planning,
facility construction and operation, special education funding
and services, purchasing of any school supply or service,
student transportation, food service, human resources,
technology, Federal funding, school business management,
leadership or communications from an organization approved to
offer continuing professional education hours by the State Board
of Accountancy or a State or national organization providing
continuing education units as part of a certification program
for school business officials within twenty-four (24) months
from the individual's hiring date.
(e) If a school entity hires an individual as a business
administrator or in an equivalent position under subsection (c)
and the individual does not comply with the requirements of this
section, the school entity shall apply to the Secretary of
Education for an extension for the individual to comply with
subsection (c)(1) or (2). The school entity must provide
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documentation of the reasons the individual is not compliant
with subsection (c)(1) or (2) and a timeline for when the
individual will meet the applicable requirements. The Secretary
of Education shall provide a school entity with a response,
indicating whether the extension has been granted or denied,
within sixty (60) days of receipt of the request.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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