Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1898

Introduced
12/8/23  

Caption

In safe schools, further providing for Office for Safe Schools; establishing the Safe Schools Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

Impact

The introduction of HB 1898 is likely to have significant implications for education funding within the state. By prioritizing the allocation of grants to intermediate units on behalf of nonpublic schools, the bill aims to create equal opportunities for all schools to receive funding for safety enhancements. This could lead to a more uniform level of safety resources across different types of schools, helping to elevate standards in areas that previously may have lacked sufficient funding for safety measures.

Summary

House Bill 1898 focuses on enhancing safety in schools by establishing the Safe Schools Fund, which is designed to provide financial support for both public and nonpublic educational institutions. The bill aims to address the growing need for improved safety measures in schools by allocating substantial financial resources, specifically a recurring transfer of $250 million from the General Fund to the Safe Schools Fund each year. This legislative initiative reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that educational environments are secure and conducive to learning.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HB 1898 appears to be positive, with strong support among legislators who recognize the importance of school safety in the current educational landscape. Many advocates argue that such funding is a crucial step toward addressing urgent safety concerns that affect students and faculty alike. However, there is also a latent concern regarding the distribution of these funds, especially with the emphasis placed on nonpublic schools, which has prompted discussions about equity among public and private education stakeholders.

Contention

Notable points of contention revolve around the allocation of funds between public and nonpublic schools, with critics questioning whether the emphasis on nonpublic institutions could detract from the essential needs of public schools. There are concerns from various advocacy groups that the funding model may favor certain schools over others, potentially leading to disparities in safety enhancements. The ongoing debate regarding the best approaches to school safety funding illustrates a broader conflict regarding resource allocation in the education sector.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB986

In grounds and buildings, providing for certified point-of-use filter required; establishing the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

PA HB857

In safe schools, further providing for definitions, for Office for Safe Schools and for reporting.

PA HB341

In grounds and buildings, providing for certified point-of-use filter required; establishing the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

PA HB2011

In grounds and buildings, providing for certified point-of-use filter required; establishing the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

PA HB1526

In intermediate units, further providing for powers and duties of the intermediate unit board of directors, for capital subsidy and for school safety and security enhancements; and, in school safety and security, further providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program.

PA SB930

In student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for school safety and security training and for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; and making editorial changes.

PA SB907

In school safety and security, further providing for school

PA HB1908

In school safety and security, further providing for school safety and security coordinator; and, in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel.

PA HB301

In preliminary provisions, further providing for special provisions applicable to limited school years; in duties and powers of board of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers and for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers, repealing provisions relating to permit for classroom monitors and providing for permit for classroom monitors; providing for the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, for dependent children, for actual cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in the four chartered schools for education of the deaf and the blind, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records and repealing provisions relating to Safe Schools Advocate in School Districts of the First Class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for school safety and security committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in character education program, further providing for character education program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations and for limitations; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making an editorial change.

PA SB180

Providing for the Universal School Meal Program; establishing the Universal School Meal Fund; and making an interfund transfer and an appropriation.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.