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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 14, 2021 09:55 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Patrick J. Harkins |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Discontinuing TB Test Requirement for School Volunteers |
| The Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949 currently requires that school personnel are tested for tuberculosis (TB) prior to working for a school. This includes but is not limited to teachers, nurses, administrators, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, librarians, student teachers, and volunteers. The provision requires a negative TB test even for virtual volunteers who would not have any physical contact with students or staff. The last time this provision was reviewed was in 1971. Since then, concern over TB has significantly reduced. Only 8,916 cases of TB were reported in 2019, the lowest number of cases recorded in the U.S. Further, the U.S. continues to have one of the lowest rates of reported TB cases in the world. This provision of the law presents many barriers to securing parent and community volunteers in Pennsylvania schools, which in turn limits family and community engagement. To counter this barrier, my legislation would amend the Public School Code to discontinue the TB test requirement specifically for school volunteers. Please join me in co-sponsoring legislation that would remove an outdated and unnecessary barrier to student engagement in schools and communities that need it most. |