PRINTER'S NO. 22
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.59
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY FARRY, PENNYCUICK, ROTHMAN, BROWN, MASTRIANO,
FONTANA, LANGERHOLC, COSTA, HAYWOOD AND BAKER,
JANUARY 22, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 22, 2025
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 community colleges, further
providing for definitions, for powers and duties of State
Board of Education and for degrees.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1901-A(4), 1902-A(a)(1) and 1912-A of
the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
School Code of 1949, are amended to read:
Section 1901-A. Definitions.--The following words and
phrases, as used in this article, shall, unless a different
meaning is plainly required by the context, have the following
meaning:
* * *
(4) "Community college" shall mean a public college or
technical institute which is established and operated in
accordance with the provisions of this act by a local sponsor
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20 which provides a two-year, four-year, postsecondary, college-
parallel, terminal-general, terminal-technical, out-of-school
youth or adult education program or any combination of these.
The community college may also provide area career and technical
education services and credit, nonremedial college courses to
secondary senior high school students.
* * *
Section 1902-A. Powers and Duties of State Board of
Education.--(a) The State Board of Education shall have the
power, and its duty shall be:
(1) To adopt such policies, standards, rules and regulations
formulated by the Council of Higher Education, as may be
necessary to provide for the establishment, operation and
maintenance of community colleges, including minimum
requirements for physical facilities and equipment, curriculum,
faculty, standards and professional requirements, qualifications
for admission and advancement of students, student enrollment,
student population of the area to be served by the community
college, requirements for satisfactory completion of a two-year
or four-year program and the degrees or diplomas or certificates
to be awarded therefor, means of financing and financial
resources for the establishment and support of the community
college, and all matters necessary to effectuate the purposes of
this act.
* * *
Section 1912-A. Degrees.-- (a) The State Board of Education
shall prescribe the types of diplomas, certificates or degrees
that may be granted students who complete post-secondary
education courses in community colleges.
(b) The board of trustees of a community college may offer a
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30 baccalaureate of science degree in nursing to students who have
or are pursuing an associate's degree in nursing.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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