Pennsylvania HB 1861: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for firefighter and emergency service training.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2310
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1861
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MOUL, COOK, PICKETT, KUZMA, JAMES, NEILSON,
TWARDZIK, WATRO, GILLEN, STEHR, PUGH AND CAUSER,
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 15, 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 terms and courses of study,
further providing for firefighter and emergency service
training.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1550 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
Section 1550. Firefighter and Emergency [Service] Medical
Services Training.--(a) Beginning with the 2003-2004 school
year and each school year thereafter, a school district may
offer firefighter and emergency [service] medical services
training as credit-earning courses to students of the age of
sixteen (16) years or older who are bona fide members of a fire
company or an emergency medical services agency. Such courses
may include:
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(1) Training as a Firefighter I from the National Board on
Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
(2) Training as an emergency medical technician [pursuant to
the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), known as the
"Emergency Medical Services Act."] in accordance with 35 Pa.C.S.
Ch. 81 (relating to emergency medical services system).
(b) A school district that offers firefighter and emergency
[service] medical services training as credit-earning courses
[shall] may provide transportation to [and supervision during]
any firefighter and emergency [service] medical services
training program that takes place off school grounds. A school
district that offers firefighter and emergency medical services
training as credit-earning courses shall provide supervision
during any firefighter and emergency medical services training
program that takes place off school grounds. Supervision of
training shall be conducted as [a cooperative education] an out-
of-school program in accordance with the provisions of 22 Pa.
Code § 11.28 (relating to out-of-school programs and part-time
employment).
(c) A school district shall not be responsible for the costs
of course fees and related materials associated with the
provisions of this section.
(d) The following words and phrases when used in this
section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Emergency medical services agency." As defined in 35
Pa.C.S. § 8103 (relating to definitions).
"Fire company." As defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7802 (relating to
definitions).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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