An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in community colleges, further providing for definitions and for financial program and reimbursement of payments.

PRINTER'S NO. 1072
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 951
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY FARRY, MILLER, SANTARSIERO, PENNYCUICK,
BARTOLOTTA, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, COMITTA, COSTA, KEARNEY AND
STEFANO, JULY 23, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JULY 23, 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 and for financial program and
reimbursement of payments.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1901-A of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding clauses 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:
* * *
(16) "First responder" shall mean any of the following
public servants:
(i) An emergency medical services provider or EMS provider,
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as defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 8103 (relating to definitions), who
is an active volunteer, employe or member of an emergency
medical service company that is:
(A) designated by a municipality as the municipality's
primary emergency medical service provider; or
(B) dispatched by a public safety answering point as defined
in 35 Pa.C.S. § 5302 (relating to definitions) or in accordance
with a mutual aid agreement under 35 Pa.C.S. § 7504 (relating to
coordination, assistance and mutual aid).
(ii) An active volunteer, employe or member of a fire
company as defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7802 (relating to
definitions) who responds to emergency calls.
(iii) A Pennsylvania State Police officer.
(iv) A peace officer as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 501
(relating to definitions) who responds to emergency calls.
(17) "First responder training program" shall mean a for-
credit, two-year or less-than-two-year occupational or technical
program to prepare students to enter first responder
occupations.
(18) "Noncredit first responder training courses" shall mean
noncredit courses provided off-campus, on-campus or through any
form of distance education for the specific purpose of providing
opportunities for students and incumbent workers to develop or
upgrade skills necessary in first responder occupations.
Section 2. Section 1913-A(k.1)(2)(iii) of the act is amended
and subsection (b) is amended by adding clauses to read:
Section 1913-A. Financial Program; Reimbursement of
Payments.
* * *
(b) * * *
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(1.9) For the 2025-2026 fiscal year and each fiscal year
thereafter, the payment for a community college shall consist of
the following:
(i) An amount equal to the allocation the community college
received from the amount appropriated for community colleges in
the immediately preceding fiscal year.
(ii) An enrollment-based allocation to be calculated as
follows:
(A) Subtract the amount allocated in subclause (i) from the
amount appropriated for community colleges.
(B) Multiply the audited full-time equivalent enrollment as
verified under subsection (k.1) for the most recent year
available for the community college by the difference in
paragraph (A).
(C) Divide the product in paragraph (B) by the sum of the
audited full-time equivalent enrollment as verified under
subsection (k.1) for the most recent year available for all
community colleges.
(1.10) For the 2025-2026 fiscal year and each fiscal year
thereafter, each community college shall receive a first
responder training allocation to be calculated as follows:
(i) Determine a weighted first responder training enrollment
for each community college by calculating the sum of the
following based upon the most recent year available:
(A) The audited full-time equivalent students enrolled in a
first responder training program at the community college
multiplied by 1.50.
(B) The audited full-time equivalent students enrolled in
noncredit first responder training courses at the community
college.
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(ii) Multiply the weighted first responder training
enrollment in subclause (i) for each community college by the
amount appropriated for community colleges for first responder
training.
(iii) Divide the product in subclause (ii) by the sum of the
weighted first responder training enrollment in subclause (i)
for all community colleges.
* * *
(k.1) * * *
(2) The audited financial statement required under clause
(1) shall include:
* * *
(iii) a verification of equivalent full-time students
enrolled in the community college in each of the following
categories: credit, noncredit, first responder training programs
and courses and each economic development stipend category,
during the fiscal year for which the audited financial statement
is presented.
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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