PRINTER'S NO. 424
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
438
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY NESBIT, MATZIE, HAHN, BARRAR, DeLUCA, DIAMOND,
SIMMONS, STAATS, NEILSON, LAWRENCE AND TOOHIL,
FEBRUARY 11, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
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 grounds and buildings, providing
for a prototypical school facility design clearinghouse.
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 a
section to read:
Section 732.2. Prototypical School Facility Design
Clearinghouse.--(a) The Department of Education shall establish
a central clearinghouse of prototypical school facility designs
for access by any school entity. A school entity shall use a
prototype design approved by the Department of Education for
inclusion in the clearinghouse in the construction of school
facilities. The Department of Education shall compile necessary
publications and a computer database to make the information on
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prototype designs available for review to school entities and
the public at large.
(b) Design professionals registered in this Commonwealth may
submit plans for inclusion in the computer database that have
been submitted and approved by the Department of Education in
accordance with section 731. The original design professional of
record shall retain ownership of a prototype design.
Prototypical school facility designs submitted shall include
information that the Department of Education determines is
necessary and appropriate to facilitate this section.
(c) The Department of Education shall establish a grading
system to review and evaluate plans submitted pursuant to this
section using standards which promote the following:
(1) The use of design principles to achieve the highest
standards of health, safety, accessibility, environmental
protection and energy efficiency.
(2) The academic and technological needs of students.
(3) The use of cost-effective design and construction
techniques, including the use of straight-line, right-angle
design principles and avoiding the use of curved and
nonsymmetrical design.
(4) The use of design principles that allow for expansion of
school facilities to accommodate future growth in student
population.
(5) The use of durable materials in construction.
(6) The preservation of open space.
(d) The Department of Education shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section.
(e) The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall
conduct a study of the Department of Education's clearinghouse
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and determine the savings incurred by school entities that have
sought access to the clearinghouse. The study shall be conducted
at the conclusion of the fifth year the clearinghouse is
accessible to school entities and shall include participation
since inception. The study shall be presented within six (6)
months of the period studied to the chair of the Education
Committee of the Senate and the chair of the Education Committee
of the House of Representatives.
(f) As used in this section, the term "school entity" means
a school district, intermediate unit, area vocational-technical
school or charter school operating within this Commonwealth
under provisions of this act.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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