House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	February 1, 2013 11:36 AM
From:	Representative Angel Cruz
To:	All House members
Subject:	School Uniforms and Prohibited Attire (Former HB 1199)

In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation that will amend the Public School Code of 1949 to require any school district of the first class to adopt a uniform policy that prohibits the wearing of any attire that can conceal, obscure or disguise a person’s face. This legislation is identical to House Bill 1199 introduced last session. It is my sincere hope you will join me in this important effort. School safety should be paramount to all of us as elected officials. Unfortunately, incidents of violence in our schools continue to happen all too often. To help combat this problem, school districts across the Commonwealth have adopted uniform policies. Currently in the School District of Philadelphia, each individual school is required to devise and enforce a dress code. The principal of each school is tasked with making the final decision as to what is considered proper or improper attire. My legislation will put into state statute the requirement that the School District of Philadelphia shall adopt a district-wide uniform policy that prohibits the wearing of hooded shirts, hats and any other attire that can conceal, obscure or disguise the face of the person wearing the attire. The overall goal of my legislation is to help make schools in Philadelphia safer and allow school administrators to more easily identify students involved in various incidents. Previous Co-sponsors: YOUNGBLOOD, CLYMER, M. O'BRIEN, D. COSTA, HALUSKA, MURT AND READSHAW
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Introduced as HB960