Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB84

Introduced
1/6/23  
Refer
1/6/23  
Refer
3/7/23  
Refer
10/18/23  
Report Pass
10/30/23  
Engrossed
10/30/23  
Enrolled
11/1/23  
Chaptered
11/6/23  

Caption

In professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty.

Impact

The repeal of these provisions is expected to have a significant impact on the state's educational policies regarding the separation of personal beliefs and professional responsibilities. By allowing teachers to wear religious symbols or garb, schools may see a more diverse representation of faiths among educators. This could foster a more inclusive environment for both students and staff. However, the alteration in policy may also lead to discussions about religious expression in public sectors and its implications on the educational atmosphere.

Summary

Senate Bill 84 proposes to amend the Public School Code of 1949 by repealing the provisions that prohibit public school teachers from wearing religious garb, insignia, or any items that indicate their membership in a religious order, sect, or denomination. This change is aimed at allowing educators greater freedom in expressing their personal beliefs while performing their duties in public educational settings. It removes the penalties associated with previous violations, which included suspension and fines for both teachers and school directors.

Sentiment

Opinions on SB84 appear to be mixed. Supporters argue that the bill promotes individual rights and freedoms, aligning educational practices with modern societal values that emphasize inclusion and expression. Advocates believe that such flexibility in attire can have positive implications for teacher-student relationships and diversity. Conversely, some critics express concern that this law could lead to potential divisions or discomfort in educational environments, particularly regarding the visibility of differing religious beliefs among educators.

Contention

Noteworthy points of contention spring from the potential shift in school culture. Critics are worried that allowing religious symbols in classrooms may disrupt the secular nature of public education and may lead to challenges in maintaining neutrality and inclusiveness. The bill also raises questions about adherence to the established boundaries between state functions and religious expressions, prompting a broader debate on how to balance personal freedoms against institutional norms.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB1268

Repealing provisions relating to realty transfer tax; and making editorial changes.

PA SB238

Repealing provisions relating to realty transfer tax; and making editorial changes.

PA HB1129

In corporate net income tax, repealing provisions relating to penalties and to repealer and effective date; establishing the Net Operating Loss Transfer Program; and imposing penalties.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; 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 professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, 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, 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 school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; 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 credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; 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, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing 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; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA HB1273

In unconventional gas well fee, repealing provisions relating to expiration; imposing a natural gas tax; and imposing penalties.

PA HB26

In provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; and imposing penalties.

PA SB837

In provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; imposing penalties; and making an editorial change.

PA SB403

Further providing for definitions, for general powers of board, for procedure for licensing as professional engineer, for procedure for licensing as professional land surveyor, for continuing professional competency requirements, for fees and for penalties.

PA HB2304

In provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; imposing penalties; and making an editorial change.

PA SB856

In preliminary provisions, providing for minimum wage for education support professionals and for supplemental reimbursements and special payments on account of minimum wage increases for education support professionals; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for majority vote required and recording; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and for duty to employ, repealing provisions relating to minimum salaries for teachers and providing for minimum salaries for professional staff members; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, repealing provisions relating to special payments on account of minimum salary increases and providing for supplemental reimbursements and special payments on account of minimum salary increases for professional staff members.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.