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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 24, 2022 01:39 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Timothy J. O'Neal |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | School Board Solicitor Legislation |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that requires solicitors appointed by boards of school directors to act in the best interests of the parents and students of the school district. Specifically, my legislation will require these solicitors, when participating at public meetings, to act loyally, impartially and in good faith and to avoid conflicts of interest that may impair a solicitor’s ability to act in the best interests of the students. My bill will also allow students and parents to bring a civil cause of action in a court of common pleas when a solicitor violates any of these duties. An aggrieved parent or student may recover $1,000 per violation, treble damages and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. During the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Wolf’s subsequent executive orders, I learned that solicitors for school boards within Washington County were not following the law and actively sought to deceive parents in matters concerning the education, health, safety and general welfare of students. I have since found that parents in other school districts have witnessed similar misconduct by the solicitor of their respective school boards. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important legislation to better protect our Commonwealth residents. |
Introduced as HB2908