An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, providing for free tuition for school board members.

PRINTER'S NO. 795
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 773
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, OTTEN, SANCHEZ, MADDEN AND CERRATO,
MARCH 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 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 the State System of Higher
Education, providing for free tuition for school board
members.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 2023-A. Free Tuition for School Board Members.--(a)
Individuals who serve as school board members shall be eligible
to enroll in eligible courses.
(b) The board shall:
(1) Identify and review courses offered within the system
that could be deemed eligible courses.
(2) Develop a list of eligible courses.
(3) Update the list of eligible courses every three (3)
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years.
(c) Each institution shall annually report the following to
the board:
(1) The number of school board members taking eligible
courses at the institution.
(2) The total number of eligible courses in which each
school board member is enrolled at the institution during each
academic year.
(d) Beginning June 1, 2026, and each June 1 thereafter, the
board shall notify the General Assembly of the total number of
eligible courses taken by school board members.
(e) No later than June 30, 2026, and each June 30
thereafter, the General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient
money to reimburse the system for each eligible course taken by
a school board member. The reimbursement money shall be
distributed to each institution at which a school board member
enrolled in an eligible course to cover the charges for tuition
that were waived for the eligible course.
(f) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Eligible course" shall mean a course offered by an
institution that is approved by the board to be provided at no
charge for tuition for a school board member and that has a
connection to the role and responsibilities of a school board
member.
"School board member" shall mean an individual who serves on
a school board of directors for a school entity located in this
Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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