Pennsylvania HB 2618: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in local organizations and services, further providing for general authority of political subdivisions.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3570
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2618
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY ROSSI, BARGER, BERNSTINE, BRENNAN, CIRESI, HAMM,
RIVERA, ROWE, SMITH, STENDER, WALSH AND ZIMMERMAN,
JUNE 9, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 9, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for
persons ineligible for licensing, license issuance to minors
and junior driver's license.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1503(c) introductory paragraph and (1) of
Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended,
the subsection is amended by adding paragraphs and the section
is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 1503. Persons ineligible for licensing; license issuance to
minors; junior driver's license.
* * *
(c) Junior driver's license.--The department may issue a
junior driver's license to a person 16 or 17 years of age under
rules and regulations adopted by the department and subject to
the provisions of this section. A junior driver's license shall
automatically become a regular driver's license when the junior
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driver attains 18 years of age. The following provisions apply
to licensed junior drivers:
(1) Except as provided in [paragraph] paragraphs (2),
(2.2) and (2.3), no licensed junior driver shall drive a
vehicle upon a public highway between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
unless accompanied by a spouse 18 years of age or older, a
parent or a person in loco parentis.
* * *
(2.2) A licensed junior driver conforming to the
requirements of section 1507 may drive a vehicle upon a
public highway between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. between the junior
driver's home and a school-sponsored activity if the junior
driver is a participant of the school-sponsored activity and
is in possession of a letter from the school entity or agent
of the school entity. The following provisions shall apply:
(i) The letter shall specify the need for the junior
driver to operate a vehicle between the junior driver's
home and a school-sponsored activity for a single school-
sponsored activity or multiple school-sponsored
activities in a school year between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
(ii) The letter shall specify a date and general
time as to when the school-sponsored activity will
conclude.
(iii) The letter may be in an electronic or physical
format.
(iv) The school entity, including the employee or
agent of the school entity, shall not be liable for any
civil damages or criminal penalties that may arise as a
result of the issuance of the letter to the junior
driver.
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(2.3) If a licensed junior driver operates a vehicle
between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. between the junior driver's home
and a school-sponsored activity and is stopped by a police
officer, is unable to provide the letter required under
paragraph (2.2) and is cited for a violation of subsection
(c)(1), a magisterial district judge, magistrate or judge
shall dismiss the charges if the junior driver prior to or at
the junior driver's hearing provides evidence of acquisition
of a letter required under paragraph (2.2) to the magisterial
district judge, magistrate or judge.
* * *
(d) Definitions.--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:
"Agent." Any individual, whether employed, contracted,
volunteering or otherwise authorized, who acts on behalf of or
is affiliated with a school entity in any capacity, including
staff, educators, volunteers, chaperones and other organizers of
school-related activities.
"Nonpublic school." A school, other than a public school
within this Commonwealth, in which a resident of this
Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school
attendance requirements of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, area
career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter
school, regional charter school or nonpublic school.
"School-sponsored activity." An assembly, field trip, class
trip, graduation ceremony, interscholastic athletic activity,
extracurricular activity, club, group, team or an activity
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sponsored, held or approved by a school entity.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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