The General Assembly was in session this week and will return on Monday, October 28.
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Senate Bill 334 moves to the Senate - we need your continued help!
 PSBA needs your continued help to oppose Senate Bill 334 (Sen. Argall, R-Schuylkill), which greatly restricts the ability of school districts to seek appeals of under-assessed properties, including apartment buildings and large commercial properties.
Unfortunately, the bill was approved by the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee and will now move to the full Senate. Thanks to those who contacted their senator, but our work is not over yet. Please continue to tell your senator that Senate Bill 334 is not taxpayer friendly and ask for a NO vote on the bill. If you have not yet reached out to your senator, please do so now.
While described as a way to protect citizens from losing their homes, the bill has far greater implications. In truth, the legislation serves to help owners of large commercial businesses to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes at the expense of all other property owners. By limiting the right to initiate appeals, particularly with large commercial properties, school districts will experience significant losses in revenue.
Click here for more information and to send a letter to your senator.
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School director petition signature bill close to the finish line
 Legislation sought by PSBA that would standardize 10 signatures as the required amount needed on a nominating petition for school director candidates is nearing the finish line! House Bill 227 (Rep. Gabler, R-Clearfield), passed by the House earlier this year, was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee this week and is now set on the Senate calendar for consideration. If passed by the Senate with no amendments, the bill will head to the governor's desk.
Currently, the PA Election Code provides a list of various offices and the number of signatures required on nominating petitions in order to be placed on the primary ballot. The requirements for some offices are described simply by the class of county, city or township in which they are located. However, the code does not list the office of school director, creating an inconsistency in situations where a single school district spans multiple types of municipalities. House Bill 227 adds school directors to the list and standardizes the requirements across all school director candidates.
PSBA supports House Bill 227 because it recognizes the wide statewide variation in petition requirements and levels the playing field for candidates for school director.
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Senate passes Act 67 fixes for school police officer arrest and training deadline
 Act 67 of 2019, enacted in July, made numerous changes concerning school security personnel, set training requirements and established provisions on who is authorized to carry firearms. The law also inadvertently eliminated arrest authority from fully trained police officers employed by school districts. In addition, concerns have been raised with the practicality in meeting training deadlines. PSBA has been working to get the needed fixes to Act 67.
This week the Senate passed House Bill 49 (Rep. Brown, R-Monroe) with amendments to reinstate school police officers' arrest power, while retaining the bill's intention that private third-party vendors who serve as school police officers do not have the same authority. House Bill 49 also extends the deadline for school police officers, school resource officers and school security guards to receive required training from September 2, 2019, until the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. House Bill 49 will now be returned to the House for concurrence. (The bill still retains original language allowing one graduation credit for completing a course in personal finance.)
Meanwhile, this week the House Education Committee approved House Bill 1881 (Rep. Kauffman, R-Franklin) that also reinstates school police officers' arrest power. It does not include the training deadline extension. House Bill 1881 is now set on the House calendar for further consideration.
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| Latest News |
| Joint State Government Commission Report Passed by the House Approved by the House Education Committee Approved by the House State Government Committee Approved by the Senate Education Committee Approved by the Senate Local Government Committee PSBA News |
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Joint State Government Commission Report
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Commission releases study on delayed school start times
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A special advisory committee of the PA Joint State Government Commission issued a report advocating for the delay of secondary school start times. PSBA President David Hutchinson served on the committee.
The report states that delaying secondary school start times has the "greatest potential to impact large numbers of students at the same time," giving students more time to sleep, and helping prevent the health concerns brought with sleep deprivation. The report also reviews common challenges that could be encountered in efforts to delay secondary school start times, including instructional school day requirements, transportation (including bus driver shortages), transportation mandates, coordination and logistics, athletics and other extracurricular activities, impacts on elementary school students and families and impact on teachers and staff.
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Passed by the House
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Tax credits for volunteer first responders
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House Bill 1705 (Rep. Gabler, R- Clearfield) authorizes school districts and municipalities to provide up to 100% tax credit against property taxes on property owned and occupied by a certified active volunteer. The tax credits must be authorized by resolution or ordinance at the discretion of the school district or municipality. Currently, municipalities may provide a tax credit of up to 20% of the tax liability of the volunteer. House Bill 1705 adds school districts to the definition of municipality and increases the amount of tax credit allowed.
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Approved by the House Education Committee
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CTE certifications on transcripts
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House Bill 1315 (Rep. Gleim, R-Cumberland) requires the inclusion of an industry-recognized credential attained by a student to be included in the high school transcript if the student took a National Occupational Competency Testing Institute or Association for Career and Technical Education test and obtained a certification through a state-qualified vocational technical school. PSBA supports House Bill 1315.
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Professional development on cultural competence
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House Bill 434 (Rep. Solomon, D-Philadelphia) requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a continuing professional education course on cultural awareness that may be used by professional educators to satisfy the continuing education requirement. Schools may offer instruction in cultural awareness that may be integrated within the social studies and language arts courses.
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Firefighter training for high school students
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Senate Bill 331 (Sen. Brooks, R-Mercer) establishes the Secondary Education Fire Training Pilot Program to provide high school students with instruction. The bill creates three grants of $150,000 which would be distributed to three community colleges or state-owned schools in the PASSHE system, one in the eastern, central, and western parts of the state, and then used to establish fire training programs for students in high school during the school year.
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Approved by the Senate Local Government Committee
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Contracts for services
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House Bill 1035 (Rep. Sappey, D-Chester) authorizes political subdivisions and authorities to enter into contracts for services when two consecutive advertisements fail to induce bids. "Services" include routine maintenance, repairs or construction for existing structures and utility services. Under House Bill 1035, should no bids be received within 15 days of the second advertisement, the legislation will allow a political subdivision or authority to initiate negotiations for a contract for services with any provider not otherwise disqualified by law or an enactment or policy of the governing body. Current law allows them to enter into contracts for the purchase of goods and the sale of real and personal property when no bids are received. House Bill 1035 extends these provisions to include projects for services.
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Approved by the House State Government Committee
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PSERS/SERS package
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The committee approved a package of bills impacting the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) and State Employees Retirement System (SERS). House Bill 1962 (Rep. Keefer,R-York) requires PSERS and SERS to each perform an annual stress test that includes various scenario analyses, simulation analyses and sensitivity analyses and submit the information to the Independent Fiscal Office. House Bill 1963 (Rep. Everett, R- Lycoming) eliminates the use of contribution collars and calls for the state to pay the annual required contribution. House Bill 1964 (Rep. Miller, R -Lancaster) increases the management fee reporting requirements.
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