Education Committee 12/15/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 1011 - Amends the Public School Code to allow the Secretary to issue a residency certificate on a one- time-only basis to permit an individual with content knowledge to serve in a particular shortage area of instruction while completing an intensive teacher training program.

The Committee reported out the following bills as amended:

SB 1073 - Amends the Public School Code to set additional criteria for the PreK Counts program. Senator Piccola offered amendment A04614 which deletes the language that requires a co-pay schedule for some people who participate in the program as well as requires the Department to ensure that grant funding is geographically dispersed to approved providers throughout the Commonwealth.  Furthermore, the amendment requires that the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on the appropriateness and efficacy of fees or copayments as an element of the program among other elements.  A vote of 11-0 was recorded. 

SB 1086 - Amends the Public School Code to provide for the nonpartisan election of school directors.  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A04906 which adjusts the signature requirements to classifications of school districts.  A vote of 11-0 was recorded. 

Education Committee 07/28/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bill as committed:

SB 993 – The legislation provides for the confidentiality of school employees’ home addresses.

The following bills were reported out as amended:

SB 1007 - This bill amends the Public School Code by making changes to the actions of a school board on a superintendent’s contract after a primary election.  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A02868 which is a clarifying amendment to specific that the school directors may take action for cause.  A vote of 11-0 was recorded. 

SB 1009 - This legislation amends the Public School Code by adding a new section to relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A02752 which clarifies that the school should have a staff member on the premises during the school day to the greatest extent possible.  A vote of 11-0 was recorded. 

SR 156 – The resolution urges the State Board of Education to adopt Final-Form regulation Reg. No. 006-312 to provide accountability for the almost $23 billion of state, local and federal dollars spent annually on public education and to ensure that our Pennsylvania high school diploma provides our graduates the tools to complete in the 21^st century and to succeed in the arena of higher education. Senator Piccola offered amendment A03090 which was a technical amendment.  A vote of 11-0 was recorded on the amendment.  A vote of 10-1 was recorded on the bill as amended.

Education Committee 06/30/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bills as amended:

SB 881 – The bill creates the Affordability and Accountability in Higher Education Act. Senator Piccola offered amendment A02235 which replaces the current language in the bill and creates a Tuition Control Study Commission to study the escalating costs of higher education and report back with recommendations on appropriate tuition controls and other measures to address college affordability by December 31, 2009.

SB 899 – The legislation amends the Public School Code to provide for changes to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.  Senator Piccola offered amendment A02244 which further defines eligibility for special needs students; collapses from three tiers to two tiers the multiplier for special needs family support levels; makes the Department of Community and Economic Development responsible for calculating the CPI consistent with their responsibilities in administering the program; and bases the CPI on a regional basis of PA, MD, DE, and NJ rather than the entire nation.

SB 968 – The bill amends the Public School Code to provide for use of restraints, seclusion or other aversive techniques.  Senator Piccola offered amendment A02257 to strike the current language in the bill and charge the State Board of Education with adopting final-omitted regulations on appropriate use of seclusion.

Education Committee 06/23/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bills as amended:

SB 629 – The bill amends the Public School Code by adding school social worker to the definition of “professional employe”.  Senator Piccola offered amendment A02031 which permits school districts, intermediate units, charter schools or area vocational-technical schools to employ school social workers who meet the qualifications under the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act.  In addition, the amended bill also notes that the school social worker may work under the supervision of a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or other school administrator or employee. 

SB 820 – This legislation amends the Public School Code by providing for the transfer of credits between institutions of higher education.  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A 01679 which provides that the parallel programs need to be those that exist as of the date of passage; any new programs would evolve under the guidance of the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee (TAOC).  Senator Dinniman also offered amendment A02076 which is an agreement between PSSHE and the community colleges permitting acceptance into full junior standing into a parallel baccalaureate program.

SB 929 – The legislation creates the Higher Education College Textbook Affordability, Accountability and Accessibility Act.  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A 01971 which is technical and clarifying language.  He also offered A02004 which deals with national publishers regarding notification and costs. 

SB 954 – The legislation amends the Public School Code to allow Approved Private Schools and the Charter Schools for the Deaf and Blind the ability to apply directly to PDE for emergency teacher certification.  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A01969 that was technical and changed “teacher certifications” to “emergency permits”.

Education Committee 06/16/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 235 (Wozniak) The bill amends the Flood Control Law by authorizing the DEP to utilize nonstructural alternatives to implement flood protection measures.

SB 880 (Wonderling) The bill authorizes the Secretary of Environmental Protection to enter into redevelopment agreements with developers who remediate brownfield sites.

SB 962 (M.White) The bill amends Title 27 (Environmental Resources) by authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to utilize funds received from the Environmental Stewardship Fund for the operation and maintenance of State parks.

SB 963 (M.White) The bill amends the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act by authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to utilize funds received from realty transfer tax revenue for the operation and maintenance of State parks.

Education Committee 06/02/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bill as committed:

SB 893:  The legislation provides for state-aid for fiscal year 2009-2010 for libraries.

The following bills passed unanimously as amended:

SB 736: The bill amends the Public School Code to require school entities to approve policies that allow for the possession and self-administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by school students in school settings.  Amendment A01020 states that a school entity has the right to prevent a student from self-carrying an epi-pen if the child is under ten years of age.  If the school does not allow the child to carry the epi-pen on him, then the school has to ensure that the auto-injectors are stored appropriately in locations that are in close proximity to the child, as well as making sure that the child’s teacher is aware of the places where the medications are stored.

SB 281:  The legislation prohibits the Department of Education from developing any new statewide public high school graduation requirements unless established by an act of the General Assembly.  Amendment A01311 was offered that clarifies that in addition to prohibiting the development of graduation requirements and any related examinations, the Department could not enter into any contract that provides for graduation competency assessments relating to statewide graduation requirements without an Act of the General Assembly. 

Education Committee 04/21/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 88:  The bill amends the Public School Code to provide that when a child lives outside of Pennsylvania as a result of one or both parents being called or ordered to active military duty, that the child will continue to be a resident of the school district that was the school district immediately prior to the parent being stationed outside of Pennsylvania so long as the parent maintains the Pennsylvania residence.

SB 674:  The legislation amends the Public School Code to permit school boards to establish the Operation Recognition Program which provides for granting a high school diploma to any honorably discharged veteran who served in the Vietnam War.

The following bills were reported out as amended:

SB 598:  The legislation amends the Public School Code to provide for liability for tuition and enforcement of payment for students educated in a rehabilitative institution and also for determining the cost of tuition.  Amendment A00763 was offered which requires that during the pendency of any issues or disputes regarding tuition charges, the inmate will continue to receive educational services.  A vote of 9-2 was recorded on the bill as amended. 

SB 624:  The bill amends the Public School Code by requiring school boards to allow for non-public and private school students to participate in school athletics, publications and other extracurricular activities.  Amendment A00758 was offered that states that any student who attends a private or nonpublic school and elects to participate in public school activities that are not offered by the private or nonpublic school can do so.  Amendment A00782 was also offered which states that the board of school directors cannot restrict inclusion of students who lives within the school district but is enrolled in a private or nonpublic school by making or converting the activity to be a part of the regular school curriculum or by granting credit towards graduation requirements for participation.  A unanimous vote was recorded on the bill as amended. 

SB 687:  The bill amends the Public School Code to exempt charter school facilities from the payment of real estate tax on realty owned by the charter school.  Also exempts the owner of property that leases property to a charter school from the payment of real estate tax.  Amendment A00745 was offered which was technical in nature and added clarifying language.  A unanimous vote was recorded on the bill as amended. 

Education Committee 03/24/09

The Senate Education Committee met on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 287 – The bill amends the Public School Code to require the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to establish a reporting standard for the annual financial report (AFR) for school districts and intermediate units.  Such reports shall conform to fund level reporting criteria only. 

SB 329 – The legislation amends the State Public School Building Authority Act to raise the level at which the competitive bidding process must occur in the award of contracts to $25,000.  Additionally, the bill would put in place an annual adjustment of these requirements based on the CPI cost of living index.

SB 332 – The bill amends the School Code to raise the level at which the competitive bidding process must occur for construction contracts and the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment.  The legislation would raise the dollar amount requirement to $25,000, and to between $7,000 and $25,000 for telephonic/written quotes.  Additionally, the bill would put in place an annual adjustment of these requirements based on the CPI cost of living index.  

The following bills were reported out as amended:

SB 55 – The bill amends the Public School Code to expand the list of convicted offenses that prohibit a person from being employed in a public or private school, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.  The bill also requires school employees to report convictions for criminal offenses immediately to school administrators.  Senator Piccola offered amendment A0323 which adds two additional crimes to the list of offenses that fall under the lifetime ban for employment in a school.  It also changes the effective date from 60 to 90 days among other aspects.  A vote of 9-2 was recorded on the amendment and 10-1 on the bill as amended. 

SB 56 – The legislation amends the Public School Code to require the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to convene an advisory committee to assist in the development of school violence reporting forms.  The bill also expands the information to be included on the form and requirements relating to the memorandum of understanding with police departments.  Senator Piccola offered amendment A0394 that requires both the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to jointly create an Office of Safe Schools within 120 days of the effective date of the act among numerous other things.  A vote of 9-2 was recorded on the amendment.  Amendment A0463 to A0394 was offered by M. J. White which clarifies that the chief school administrator shall have discretion in notifying law enforcement for offenses that do not mandate immediate notification.  A vote of 10-1 was recorded on the amendment.  A vote of 9-2 was recorded on the bill as amended.