SB 83 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for firefighter and emergency service training and establishing the Fire Training Fund.

HOUSE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.NOS.

6161, 483 PRINTER'S NO.

483851 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

83 2021 INTRODUCEDINTJ. BY BROOKS, MUTH, MARTIN, SCAVELLO, AUMENT, STEFANO, J.

WARD AND KANE, JANUARY 22, 2021 SENATORAS MARTIN,REPRESENTATIVES, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, MARCHJUNE 23,7, 20212021SE OF 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 terms and courses of study, further providing for firefighter and emergency service training and establishing the Fire Training Fund.

Firefighter and Emergency Service Training.-- (a) [Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year and each school year thereafter, a] A school districtdistrict] A SCHOOL ENTITY OR <-- NONPUBLIC SCHOOL may offer firefighter and emergency service training as credit-earning courses to students of the age of sixteen (16) years or older, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c).

(2) Training as an emergency medical technician pursuant to the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), known as the "Emergency Medical Services Act." (b) A school district[district] ENTITY OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL that <-- offers firefighter and emergency service training as credit-earningcredit- earning courses shall provide transportation to and supervision during any firefighter and emergency service training program that takes place off school grounds.

The purpose of the pilot program is to provide high school students with instruction through a partnership between institutions of higher education and school districts or area <-- career and technical schools,schools SCHOOL ENTITIES OR NONPUBLIC <-- SCHOOLS, or both, to increase the number of individuals capable of becoming volunteer firefighters.

The pilot program shall be implemented in accordance with SECTIONsection 7 <--of OFthe THEact ACTof OFOctober OCTOBER 24, 2012 (P.L.1209, NO.151),No.151), KNOWNknown ASas THEthe CHILDChild LABORLabor ACT,Act, ANDand the following:

The State Fire Commissioner, to the greatest extent practicable, shall select one institution of higher education each from the eastern, central and western 20210SB0083PN0851 - 2 - regions of this Commonwealth.

(2) An institution of higher education selected by the State 20210SB0083PN0483 - 2 - Fire Commissioner shall operate the pilot program by entering into an agreement with a school district or an area career and <-- technical school,school SCHOOL ENTITY OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, or both, for <-- the provision of fire instruction to students who are in at least the ninth grade and leading to Firefighter I certification.

(6) During the pilot program, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall conduct a survey of volunteer fire companies in the municipalities surrounding the school districts <-- and area career and technical schools SCHOOL ENTITIES AND <-- NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS that participate in the pilot program to 20210SB0083PN0851 - 3 - determine whether the pilot program is increasing the number of volunteer firefighters and any additional recommendations.

The results of the survey shall be submitted to the chair and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs and 20210SB0083PN0483 - 3 - Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives within six (6) months of the expiration of the pilot program.

(d) As used in this section, the term "institution of higher <-- education" means a community college operating under Article XIX-A, a college operating under Article XIX-G or a university within the State System of Higher Education.

Section(D) 2.AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES <-- SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

This"INSTITUTION actOF shallHIGHER takeEDUCATION." effectA JanuaryCOMMUNITY 1,COLLEGE 2021OPERATING 2022,UNDER <--ARTICLE orXIX-A, immediately,A whicheverCOLLEGE isOPERATING later.UNDER ARTICLE XIX-G OR A UNIVERSITY WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

20210SB0083PN0483"NONPUBLIC -SCHOOL." 4A -NONPROFIT SCHOOL, OTHER THAN A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THIS COMMONWEALTH, WHEREIN A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH MAY LEGALLY FULFILL THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT AND WHICH MEETS THE APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 (PUBLIC LAW 88-352, 78 STAT.

241).

"SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, INTERMEDIATE UNIT, AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL OR REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL.

20210SB0083PN0851 - 4 - Section 2.

This act shall take effect January 1, 2022, or immediately, whichever is later.

20210SB0083PN0851 - 5 -