Pennsylvania SB 698: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, further providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for school buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 709 PRINTER'S NO. 1622
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 698
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY COLEMAN, BROWN, VOGEL, STEFANO AND DUSH,
APRIL 30, 2025
SENATOR CULVER, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 20, 2026
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 grounds and buildings, further
providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for school
buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof.; AND, IN
CHARTER SCHOOLS, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR PROVISIONS APPLICABLE
TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND FOR APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS
OF THIS ACT AND OF OTHER ACTS AND REGULATIONS.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 703 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 1. SECTIONS 703 AND 1732-A(A) OF THE ACT OF MARCH
10, 1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF
1949, ARE AMENDED TO READ:
Section 703. Acquisition of Buildings, Sites for School
Buildings and Playgrounds, and Disposing Thereof.--In order to
comply with the provisions of this act, and subject to the
conditions thereof[, the]:
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(1) The board of school directors of each district is hereby
vested with the necessary power and authority to acquire, in the
name of the district, by purchase, lease, gift, devise,
agreement, condemnation, or otherwise, any and all schools and
real estate, either vacant or occupied, including lands
theretofore occupied by streets and alleys which have been
vacated by municipal authorities, and to acquire by purchase,
lease, gift or devise, other buildings approved for school use
by the Department of Education as the board of school directors
may deem necessary to furnish school buildings or other suitable
sites for proper school purposes for said district or to enlarge
the grounds of any school property held by such district, and to
sell, convey, transfer, dispose of, or abandon the same, or any
part thereof, as the board of school directors may determine.
Approval of the Department of Education shall not be required
for school buildings and playgrounds on any school construction
project for which State reimbursement is not requested.
(2) The board of school directors of each district may
acquire real property by purchase under paragraph (1) for not
more than the fair market value. The fair market value of real
property for a purchase valued in excess of ten thousand dollars
($10,000) shall be determined by the school directors in
consultation with two of the following:
(i) The county assessor.
(ii) A licensed real estate broker.
(iii) A licensed real estate appraiser doing business in the
county where the acquisition of property is to be made.
(2) THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS OF EACH DISTRICT MAY
ACQUIRE REAL PROPERTY BY PURCHASE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) FOR NOT
MORE THAN THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY. IF THE BOARD
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OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS OBTAINS MORE THAN ONE APPRAISAL, THE PRICE
PAID BY THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS MAY NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE
OF THE APPRAISALS. THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS SHALL DETERMINE
THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY THROUGH AT LEAST ONE
APPRAISAL OF THE REAL PROPERTY BY A PERSON AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM
AN APPRAISAL OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY UNDER THE ACT OF JULY 10,
1990 (P.L.404, NO.98), KNOWN AS THE "REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS
CERTIFICATION ACT." A PERSON MAKING AN APPRAISAL UNDER THIS
PARAGRAPH MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN ANY
ASPECT OF THE SALE OF THE REAL PROPERTY.
(3) Documents related to the determination of fair market
THE APPRAISED value under paragraph (2) shall be subject to and
accessible under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3),
known as the "Right-to-Know Law," and must be included in the
documents made public under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open
meetings).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
"RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW."
SECTION 1732-A. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.--
(A) CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:
SECTIONS 108, 110, 111, 321, 325, 326, 327, 431, 436, 443,
510, 518, 527, 703, 708, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 752, 753,
755, 771, 776, 777, 808, 809, 810, 1109, 1111, 1112(A), 1301,
1310, 1317, 1317.1, 1317.2, 1318, 1326, 1327, 1327.2, 1329,
1330, 1332, 1333, 1333.1, 1333.2, 1333.3, 1303-A, 1513, 1517,
1518, 1521, 1523, 1531, 1547, 2014-A, ARTICLE XIII-A AND ARTICLE
XIV.
ACT OF JULY 17, 1961 (P.L.776, NO.341), KNOWN AS THE
"PENNSYLVANIA FAIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACT."
ACT OF JULY 19, 1965 (P.L.215, NO.116), ENTITLED "AN ACT
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