Regular Session 2015-2016 Senate Bill 1332 P.N. 1981

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1968

PRINTER'S NO. 1981

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

1332

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY AUMENT, JUNE 23, 2016

SENATOR SMUCKER, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, JUNE 27, 2016

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," providing for administrative

partnerships between school districts and for Administrative

Partnership Grant Pilot Program.

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 XV-H

ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SUBARTICLE A

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

Section 1501-H. Legislative intent.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to help school

districts save money and operate more efficiently by encouraging

partnerships of routine administrative functions between school

districts. It is also the intent of the General Assembly to

provide for additional opportunities between school districts to

cooperatively develop joint or shared educational programs for

students and educators.

Section 1502-H. 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:

"Department." The Department of Education of the

Commonwealth.

"Grant program." The Administrative Partnership Grant Pilot

Program established under this article.

"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

SUBARTICLE B

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 1511-H. Authorization of administrative partnerships.

Consistent with the provisions of 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 (relating

to intergovernmental cooperation), two or more school districts

may enter into an agreement to share the following between the

school districts:

(1) A superintendent or assistant superintendent, duly

elected in accordance with law, for the general supervision

and direction of all operations of each district and to

perform for each district those duties imposed upon a

superintendent or assistant superintendent under this act.

(2) Superintendent office personnel to perform for each

district those duties imposed on superintendent office

personnel under this act.

(3) A business administrator, business manager or other

business office personnel who perform the business management

responsibilities under section 433 and other duties as

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imposed by the board of school directors including, but not

limited to, financial and budgeting services, receiving and

disbursing funds, payroll services, financial accounting,

internal auditing and property accounting services for each

district.

(4) The management of student transportation services,

including activities related to ensuring the safe and

efficient conveyance of students to and from school.

(5) The management of school facilities, including

directing and supervising of the operation and maintenance of

school buildings and grounds.

(6) The management of health services, including

providing students with appropriate medical, dental and nurse

services.

(7) (6) The management of purchasing services, including

purchasing supplies, furniture, equipment and materials used

in the operation of a school district.

(8) (7) The management and sharing of technology

resources, including information technologies, networks,

hardware or personnel.

(9) (8) Other managerial functions as deemed appropriate

by two or more school districts to share as approved by the

secretary.

SUBARTICLE C

ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNERSHIP GRANT PILOT PROGRAM

Section 1521-H. Establishment.

The Administrative Partnership Grant Pilot Program is

established in the department to provide financial assistance to

facilitate the sharing of administrative functions between

school districts as authorized under Subarticle B.

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Section 1522-H. Application.

The department shall develop a procedure for awarding grants

under the program. Two or more school districts may apply for a

grant under the program as prescribed by the department. The

application at a minimum shall contain the following:

(1) A detailed description of the administrative

functions the school districts intend to share under

Subarticle B.

(2) The amount of grant funding being requested.

(3) An estimate of the cost savings or other

efficiencies that the partnership will achieve.

(4) Any additional benefits to students and educators.

(5) Adoption of a resolution by the boards of school

directors of the school districts approving the partnership

described in paragraph (1).

Section 1523-H. Grant awards.

(a) General rule.--The secretary shall make no more than

four grant awards each fiscal year in an amount not to exceed

$250,000 per grant award.

(b) Grant prioritization.--The secretary shall give priority

to an application for grant funding under this subarticle to

those applicants who have demonstrated an existing partnership

consistent with this article.

construed to prohibit the secretary from making a grant award to

the same applicants in subsequent years.

Section 1524-H. Funds.

The department may use the following to award grants under

the program:

(1) Appropriations made by the General Assembly for the

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program.

(2) Funding appropriated to the department for general

government operations.

(3) Up to $250,000 annually of undistributed funds not

expended, encumbered or committed from appropriations for

grants and subsidies made to the department to award grants.

The funds shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Budget

to a restricted account as necessary to award grants and,

when transferred, are hereby appropriated to carry out the

provisions of this subarticle.

Section 1525-H. Technical assistance.

The department shall provide technical assistance to school

districts seeking APPLYING to share administrative functions

under this article.

Section 1526-H. Reports by school districts.

School districts that are awarded a grant under this

subarticle shall make a preliminary report to the department

detailing the progress made toward achieving the shared services

outlined in its grant application every 180 days following the

initial A grant award and make a final report no later than 60

days after the completion of the administrative partnership

outlined in the grant application. The reports required under

this section shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Actual cost savings, either directly or through

avoided costs, achieved by the sharing of services authorized

under this article.

(2) A description of how operational efficiencies were

improved as a result of the sharing of services authorized

under this article.

(3) Information relating to any impediments the

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districts experienced in successfully implementing the

sharing of services under this article.

(4) Information relating to any enhancements or

additions to educational programming or improvements in

student achievement as a result of the sharing of services

authorized under this article.

(5) Any other information a district may deem necessary.

Section 1527-H. Reports by department.

The department shall compile the reports it receives under

section 1526-H and transmit them to the chairperson of the

Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairperson of the

Education Committee of the Senate, the chairperson of the

Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives and the

chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of

Representatives annually beginning no later than June 30, 2017.

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

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