HB 1861 — 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.

PRINTER'S NO.     2310

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1861
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY MOUL, COOK, PICKETT, KUZMA, JAMES, NEILSON,
        TWARDZIK, WATRO, GILLEN, STEHR, PUGH AND CAUSER,
        SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 15, 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 terms and courses of study,
 6      further providing for firefighter and emergency service
 7      training.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 1550 of the act of March 10, 1949
11   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12   amended to read:
13      Section 1550.    Firefighter and Emergency [Service] Medical
14   Services Training.--(a)    Beginning with the 2003-2004 school
15   year and each school year thereafter, a school district may
16   offer firefighter and emergency [service] medical services
17   training as credit-earning courses to students of the age of
18   sixteen (16) years or older who are bona fide members of a fire
19   company or an emergency medical services agency. Such courses
20   may include:
 1      (1)   Training as a Firefighter I from the National Board on
 2   Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
 3      (2)   Training as an emergency medical technician [pursuant to
 4   the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), known as the
 5   "Emergency Medical Services Act."] in accordance with 35 Pa.C.S.
 6   Ch. 81 (relating to emergency medical services system).
 7      (b)   A school district that offers firefighter and emergency
 8   [service] medical services training as credit-earning courses
 9   [shall] may provide transportation to [and supervision during]
10   any firefighter and emergency [service] medical services
11   training program that takes place off school grounds. A school
12   district that offers firefighter and emergency medical services
13   training as credit-earning courses shall provide supervision
14   during any firefighter and emergency medical services training
15   program that takes place off school grounds. Supervision of
16   training shall be conducted as [a cooperative education] an out-
17   of-school program in accordance with the provisions of 22 Pa.
18   Code § 11.28 (relating to out-of-school programs and part-time
19   employment).
20      (c)   A school district shall not be responsible for the costs
21   of course fees and related materials associated with the
22   provisions of this section.
23      (d)   The following words and phrases when used in this
24   section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
25   unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
26      "Emergency medical services agency."     As defined in 35
27   Pa.C.S. § 8103 (relating to definitions).
28      "Fire company."   As defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7802 (relating to
29   definitions).
30      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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