Pennsylvania HB 1748: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for the Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in Higher Education.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2154
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1748
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, GUENST, HILL-EVANS, WAXMAN,
HOHENSTEIN, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, RIVERA, D. WILLIAMS, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ AND CIRESI, JULY 18, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 21, 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," providing for the Pilot Program for
Homeless Youth in Higher Education.
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 an
article to read:
ARTICLE XX‒N
PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Section 2001-N. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Institution of higher education." A community college
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operating under Article XIX-A or a university within the State
System of Higher Education under Article XX-A.
"Pilot program." The Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in
Higher Education established under section 2002-N(a).
"Student experiencing homelessness." A student enrolled in
an institution of higher education who is either currently
without a domicile or who has experienced homelessness within
the past two years.
Section 2002-N. Establishment and guidelines.
(a) Establishment.--The Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in
Higher Education is established in the Department of Education.
(b) Participants.--The State Board of Higher Education shall
select six institutions of higher education, consisting of four
community colleges and two universities within the State System
of Higher Education which are geographically dispersed, to
participate in a pilot program to provide assistance to students
experiencing homelessness. An institution of higher education
chosen to participate in the pilot program shall provide
accommodations to students experiencing homelessness, including
all of the following:
(1) Access to laundry facilities.
(2) Access to storage.
(3) Access to locker room and shower facilities.
(4) Reduced-price meals or meal plans and access to food
banks.
(5) Access to technology.
(6) Access to short-term housing or housing assistance,
especially during seasonal breaks.
(7) Case management services.
(c) Housing.--An institution of higher education
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participating in the pilot program may establish plans to
develop surplus property for affordable housing to accommodate
the needs of students experiencing homelessness.
(d) Resources.--An institution of higher education
participating in the pilot program shall leverage existing
community resources by providing information that is available
for individuals experiencing homelessness, including through
nonprofit organizations, local housing agencies and the
Department of Human Services, to students experiencing
homelessness in the pilot program.
(e) Report.--By December 1, 2027, an institution of higher
education participating in the pilot program shall provide a
report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
Representatives that includes at least the following
information:
(1) The number of students experiencing homelessness or
food insecurity who were attending the institution of higher
education during the pilot program. The State Board of Higher
Education shall coordinate with the institution of higher
education to collect voluntary data on how many students
experiencing homelessness or food insecurity are attending
the institution of higher education.
(2) The number of students assisted by the pilot
program.
(3) Strategies for accommodating students experiencing
homelessness or food insecurity.
(4) Recommendations for legislation to better serve
students experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.
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(f) Voluntary participation.--An institution of higher
education not selected to participate in the pilot program may
participate voluntarily and may submit the report required of
the pilot program participants under subsection (e), regardless
of participation status.
(g) Expiration.--The pilot program shall operate for a
minimum of two academic years, beginning with the academic year
that starts at least six months after the effective date of this
subsection.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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