HB 1714 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for when provided.

PRINTER'S NO.   2107

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1714
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY FRIEL, JULY 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 9, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, further
 6      providing for when provided.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1361 of the act of March 10, 1949
10   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
11   amended by adding a clause to read:
12      Section 1361.    When Provided.--(1)   The board of school
13   directors in any school district may, out of the funds of the
14   district, provide for the free transportation of any resident
15   pupil to and from the kindergarten, elementary school, or
16   secondary school in which he is lawfully enrolled, provided that
17   such school is not operated for profit and is located within the
18   district boundaries or outside the district boundaries at a
19   distance not exceeding ten miles by the nearest public highway,
20   except that such ten-mile limit shall not apply to area career
 1   and technical schools which regularly serve eligible district
 2   pupils or to special schools and classes approved by the
 3   Department of Education, and to and from any points within or
 4   without the Commonwealth in order to provide field trips for any
 5   purpose connected with the educational pursuits of the pupils.
 6   When provision is made by a board of school directors for the
 7   transportation of public school pupils to and from such schools
 8   or to and from any points within or without the Commonwealth in
 9   order to provide field trips as herein provided, the board of
10   school directors shall also make identical provision for the
11   free transportation of pupils who regularly attend nonpublic
12   kindergarten, elementary and high schools not operated for
13   profit to and from such schools or to and from any points within
14   or without the Commonwealth in order to provide field trips as
15   herein provided. Such transportation of pupils attending
16   nonpublic schools shall be provided during regular school hours
17   on such dates and periods that the nonpublic school not operated
18   for profit is in regular session, according to the school
19   calendar officially adopted by the directors of the same in
20   accordance with provisions of law. The board of school directors
21   shall provide such transportation whenever so required by any of
22   the provisions of this act or of any other act of Assembly.
23      (2)   The board of school directors in any school district
24   may, if the board deems it to the best interest of the school
25   district, for the purposes of transporting pupils as required or
26   authorized by any of the provisions of this act or of any other
27   act of the Assembly, appropriate funds for urban common carrier
28   mass transportation purposes from current revenues to urban
29   common carrier mass transportation authorities to assist the
30   authorities to meet costs of operation, maintenance, capital

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 1   improvements, and debt service. Said contributions shall not be
 2   subject to reimbursement by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
 3      (3)   The State Board of Education shall adopt regulations,
 4   including qualifications of school bus drivers, to govern the
 5   transportation of school pupils.
 6      (4)   The board of school directors in any school district
 7   shall be prohibited from authorizing the transportation of
 8   pupils when the school entity in which the pupil is currently
 9   enrolled is located outside the boundary of this Commonwealth.
10      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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