PRINTER'S NO. 2248
No. 1532 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY SCHWARTZ, EARLL, STOUT, COSTA, KUKOVICH,
TARTAGLIONE, O'PAKE, KITCHEN, WOZNIAK, STACK, LAVALLE AND
KASUNIC, SEPTEMBER 27, 2002
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 27, 2002
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for the tax credit
6 scholarship program.
7 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
8 (1) Information regarding the beneficiaries of the
9 scholarships and funds for nonscholarship innovative
10 education programs at public schools under the educational
11 improvement tax credit program is needed in order to ensure
12 accountability of the use of the tax credits and to determine
13 whether the legislative intent for the programs is being met.
14 (2) The General Assembly must know the proportion of the
15 $20,000,000 in tax credits that is provided to students who
16 already attend nonpublic schools in order to determine
17 whether this program is a wise use of taxpayer dollars in
18 improving education in this Commonwealth.
19 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1 hereby enacts as follows:
2 Section 1. Section 2003-B(c) and (d) of the act of March 10,
3 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
4 added May 17, 2001 (P.L.4, No.4), are amended to read:
5 Section 2003-B. Qualification and application.
6 * * *
7 (c) Scholarship program.--A scholarship organization must
8 certify to the department that the organization is eligible to
9 participate in the program established under this article. In
10 order to be eligible to participate in the program established
11 under this article, a scholarship organization shall agree to
12 annually report to the department by December 31, 2002, and by
13 December 31 of each year thereafter:
14 (1) The number of scholarships awarded to eligible students.
15 (2) The names of schools awarded scholarships on behalf of
16 eligible students and total and average scholarship amounts.
17 (3) The number of eligible students awarded scholarships
18 attending each school and total and average scholarship amounts.
19 (4) The number of eligible students awarded scholarships who
20 attended a public school in the previous school year and total
21 and average scholarship amounts.
22 (5) The number of eligible students awarded scholarships who
23 attended a nonpublic school or were home-schooled in the
24 previous school year and total and average scholarship amounts.
25 (d) Educational improvement organization.--An application
26 submitted by an educational improvement organization must
27 describe its proposed innovative educational program or programs
28 in a form prescribed by the department. The department shall
29 consult with the Department of Education as necessary. The
30 department shall review and approve or disapprove the
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1 application. In order to be eligible to participate in the
2 program established under this article, an educational
3 improvement organization shall agree to annually report to the
4 department by December 31, 2002, and by December 31 of each year
5 thereafter:
6 (1) The name of innovative education program or programs and
7 award amount or amounts.
8 (2) A description of how the award was utilized with
9 demonstrated or expected innovative education improvements.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
12 Section 2009-B. Reporting requirement.
13 The department in consultation with the Department of
14 Education shall report to the General Assembly by March 30,
15 2003, and by March 30 of each year thereafter:
16 (1) The number and names of scholarship organizations
17 awarding scholarships.
18 (2) The total number of scholarships awarded to eligible
19 students and the total and average scholarship amounts awarded
20 to eligible students.
21 (3) The number of scholarships awarded by each scholarship
22 organization and the total and average scholarship amounts
23 awarded to eligible students.
24 (4) The number and names of schools awarded scholarships on
25 behalf of eligible students and the total number of scholarships
26 at each school, including the total and average scholarship
27 amounts.
28 (5) The number of eligible students who were awarded
29 scholarships and who attended a public school in the previous
30 school year, and the amounts of the scholarships.
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1 (6) The number of eligible students who were awarded
2 scholarships and who attended a nonpublic school or were home-
3 schooled in the previous school year, and the amounts of the
4 scholarships.
5 (7) The name and description of each innovative education
6 program and participating education improvement organization
7 awarded tax credits and amount of each award.
8 (8) The names of public schools and school districts where
9 innovative education programs that received awards were
10 implemented.
11 (9) A description of how awards were utilized in each
12 innovative education program, including demonstrated or expected
13 innovative education improvements.
14 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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