PRINTER'S NO. 1244
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
953
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY A. WILLIAMS, NOVEMBER 22, 2021
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, NOVEMBER 22, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of August 9, 1963 (P.L.643, No.341), entitled
"An act to execute partially section one of article fifteen
of the Constitution by giving cities of the first class the
right to frame, adopt and amend home rule charter provisions
governing the organization of the public school system; to
grant to such cities certain enumerated powers of local self-
government with respect to public education; to grant to such
cities necessarily implied powers to effectuate such
enumerated powers; to impose certain general and specific
restrictions and limitations; and to impose duties upon city
councils, city officers, board of elections, courts and the
Secretary of the Commonwealth," in grant of power, further
providing for grant of powers and authority and providing for
method of election.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 18(a)(3) of the act of August 9, 1963
(P.L.643, No.341), known as the First Class City Public
Education Home Rule Act, is amended and the subsection is
amended by adding a paragraph to read:
Section 18. Grant of Powers and Authority.--(a) Any city of
the first class taking advantage of this act and framing and
adopting provisions hereunder shall have, and may exercise, the
following enumerated powers:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
* * *
(3) The power to set the term, number and qualifications of
board of education members, except as provided under paragraph
(3.1); to provide for the methods of nomination, such to include
a citizens' nominating panel, if deemed advisable; and [either]
to provide for a method of appointment, in such case such power
shall include the designation of the appointing authority, [or]
to provide for a method of election[.], except as provided for
under section 19.1, or to provide for a method of appointment in
part and a method of election in part, except as provided for
under section 19.1.
(3.1) In the event that a city provides for a method of
appointment in part and a method of election in part as provided
for under paragraph (3), the number of board members elected
shall be no more than seventeen.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 19.1. Method of Election.--(a) Notwithstanding any
other provision of this act, any city of the first class taking
advantage of this act and framing and adopting provisions that
exercise the power to provide for a method of election for
members of a board of education, whether in whole or in part, as
provided for under section 18(a)(3) shall:
(1) Conduct the election for board members in accordance
with the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
"Pennsylvania Election Code," and section 14 of this act.
(2) File nomination papers for board members in the same
manner as nominations of candidates by political bodies or
independent candidates as provided for under section 951 of the
"Pennsylvania Election Code" but without regard to political
20210SB0953PN1244 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
party affiliation. Nomination papers for the board of education
shall include the signatures of a minimum of two hundred
qualified electors without regard to political party
affiliation.
(3) Through the election officers of the city, count the
votes cast and make returns to the board of elections. The
result of any such election shall be computed by the board of
elections in the same manner as is provided for by law for
computation of similar returns at any such election.
Certificates of the result of any such election shall be filed
by the board of elections with the city council of the city, the
secretary of the board of public education of the school
district and the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the form of
the ballot shall include under each candidate's name a space for
a voter to write in the name of any other person.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210SB0953PN1244 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17