Regular Session 2023-2024 House Bill 1526 P.N. 3371

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1749

PRINTER'S NO. 3371

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1526

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, MARCELL, MADDEN, HARKINS, HANBIDGE,

SANCHEZ, ADAMS, HILL-EVANS, SAPPEY, DELLOSO, D. WILLIAMS,

GUENST, FIEDLER, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, BOROWSKI, GREEN, STRUZZI,

OTTEN, MALAGARI, BRENNAN, FRIEL, MUNROE AND TOMLINSON,

JUNE 27, 2023

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 24, 2024

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," in intermediate units, further

providing for powers and duties of the intermediate unit

board of directors and, for capital subsidy. AND FOR SCHOOL

SAFETY AND SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS; AND, IN SCHOOL SAFETY AND

SECURITY, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR TARGETED SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS

FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ENTITIES PROGRAM.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Sections 914-A(11) and 919.1-A(a) of the act of

March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code

of 1949, are amended to read:

Section 914-A. Powers and Duties of the Intermediate Unit

Board of Directors.--An intermediate unit board of directors

shall have the power and its duty shall be:

* * *

(11) To [lease] acquire land and buildings by purchase,

<--

lease or gift and to own office space and warehouse facilities.

* * *

Section 919.1-A. Capital Subsidy.--(a) All lease

agreements, security agreements, loan agreements, mortgages or

any other contracts, instruments or agreements for office space,

classrooms, warehouse space and [similar] other facilities shall

be pre-approved by the Secretary of Education. [Loan agreements

and mortgages for office and warehouse facilities shall be pre-

approved by the Secretary of Education.] For the 1977-1978

school year and each school year thereafter, in addition to any

payments required under section 917.1-A, the Commonwealth shall

allocate to the intermediate units, on account of approved lease

agreements, loan agreements, mortgages, security agreements or

any other contracts, instruments or agreements, an amount to be

determined as follows: by obtaining the product of the number of

students in average daily membership (ADM) multiplied by the

median actual instruction expense per weighted average daily

membership of all the school districts, to be further multiplied

by three one-hundredths of one percent (0.03%), based on the

latest actual data available to the Secretary of Education.

* * *

SECTION 2. SECTION 923.3-A(C) AND (D) OF THE ACT, AMENDED

DECEMBER 13, 2023 (P.L.187, NO.33), ARE AMENDED AND SUBSECTION

(B) IS AMENDED BY ADDING A DEFINITION TO READ:

SECTION 923.3-A. SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS.-*

* *

(B) DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

"COMMISSION" MEANS THE PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION ON CRIME AND

DELINQUENCY.

* * *

20230HB1526PN3371 - 2 -

<--

PROGRAM OF SCHOOL SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS SHALL BE PROVIDED [BY AN

INTERMEDIATE UNIT IN WHICH A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL IS LOCATED,] FOR

NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS DEVELOPED BY THE

SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION

1302-B IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND

PURSUANT TO SECTION 1306.1-B. [THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AN

INTERMEDIATE UNIT SHALL MAKE APPLICATION FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND

SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS UPON THE REQUEST OF A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL OR

COMBINATION OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE INTERMEDIATE

UNIT. SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS FOR WHICH GRANTS

ARE RECEIVED SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR OR CONTRACTED FOR DIRECTLY BY

THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT OR LOANED BY THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT TO THE

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.]

(D) LIMITATIONS. IN CARRYING OUT THE DUTIES OF THIS SECTION

AND THE SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM, THE

[INTERMEDIATE UNIT] COMMISSION MAY NOT USE MORE THAN FIVE PER

CENTUM (5%) OF THE FUNDS IT RECEIVES UNDER THIS SECTION FOR

GRANT ADMINISTRATION. [IF ALL FUNDS ALLOCATED BY THE

INTERMEDIATE UNITS FOR ADMINISTRATION ARE NOT EXPENDED FOR

PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR OTHER

PROGRAM COSTS.]

SECTION 3. SECTION 1306.1-B(J), (K)(3) AND (L)(3) OF THE

ACT, ADDED DECEMBER 13, 2023 (P.L.187, NO.33), ARE AMENDED TO

READ:

SECTION 1306.1-B. TARGETED SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS FOR NONPUBLIC

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ENTITIES PROGRAM.

* * *

(J) USES.--TARGETED GRANTS TO SCHOOL ENTITIES AND [TO

INTERMEDIATE UNITS ON BEHALF OF] NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL BE USED

20230HB1526PN3371 - 3 -

TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL MENTAL

HEALTH. ELIGIBLE USES OF THE FUNDS SHALL INCLUDE ANY USE UNDER

SECTION 1306-B(J) AND TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS SCHOOL

VIOLENCE BY ESTABLISHING OR ENHANCING SCHOOL SECURITY, INCLUDING

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAINING AND COMPENSATION OF SCHOOL

SECURITY PERSONNEL.

(K) OTHER GRANT RECIPIENTS.--

* * *

(3) A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL MAY APPLY TO THE COMMITTEE FOR

GRANT FUNDING UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) TO BE USED FOR THE COSTS

ASSOCIATED WITH OBTAINING THE SERVICES OF SCHOOL SECURITY

PERSONNEL FROM A LIST OF APPROVED VENDORS CERTIFIED BY THE

COMMITTEE. [A GRANT AWARD FOR THIS PURPOSE SHALL BE AWARDED

AND PAID DIRECTLY TO THE APPROVED VENDOR WITH WHICH THE

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES. A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL

MAY NOT APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR ANY

PURPOSE OTHER THAN OBTAINING THE SERVICES OF SCHOOL SECURITY

PERSONNEL UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH.]

(L) OTHER DUTIES.--THE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING

DUTIES AS TO TARGETED GRANTS:

* * *

(3) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR

THEREAFTER, THE COMBINED AMOUNT OF GRANTS AWARDED TO

[INTERMEDIATE UNITS ON BEHALF OF] NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER

SUBSECTION (J) AND GRANTS AWARDED FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL OBTAINING THE SERVICES OF SCHOOL SECURITY

PERSONNEL UNDER SUBSECTION (K) SHALL BE NO LESS THAN

$14,551,000.

* * *

Section 2 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

20230HB1526PN3371 - 4 -

<--