Pennsylvania HB 1885: 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, providing for school swimming education program; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for payments on account of school swimming education program; and making an appropriation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2346
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1885
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GREEN, GIRAL, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, HANBIDGE, HILL-
EVANS, KHAN, PARKER, FREEMAN, FLEMING AND KENYATTA,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 29, 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,
providing for school swimming education program; in
reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts,
providing for payments on account of school swimming
education program; and making an appropriation.
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 sections
to read:
Section 1 529. School Swimming Education Program.--(a) On or
before July 1, 2026, the department shall identify or develop a
model curriculum and guidelines for instruction in water and
swimming safety for students in grades kindergarten through
twelve.
(b) The model curriculum and guidelines under this section
shall:
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(1) Be posted on the publicly accessible Internet website of
the department.
(2) Be age appropriate.
(3) Be made available to all school entities and, upon
request, to nonpublic schools.
(4) At a minimum, include instruction on:
(i) Awareness of water conditions.
(ii) Safe behaviors in and around the water.
(iii) The proper use of flotation devices.
(iv) The importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use
with water recreation.
(v) Any other subject that the department determines to be
appropriate.
(c) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school
entity may utilize the model curriculum and guidelines under
this section or develop the school entity's own curriculum in
accordance with academic standards and consistent with this
section. The following apply:
(1) The school entity may partner with a local parks and
recreation agency to provide access to the necessary water and
swimming facilities to implement the curriculum under this
section.
(2) The school entity may utilize appropriate publicly or
privately available materials, personnel and other resources in
developing and implementing the curriculum, subject to the
requirements of section 111 and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344 (relating to
employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster
parents).
(d) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is
initially appropriated from the General Fund to the department
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to provide for the implementation, administration and
enforcement of this section and for the payments specified under
section 2504.5.
(e) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations as
necessary to implement, administer and enforce this section.
(f) 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:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
Section 2504.5. Payments on Account of School Swimming
Education Program.--The Department of Education shall pay each
school entity that complies with the school swimming education
program established under section 1529, from money appropriated
under section 1529 or otherwise appropriated by the General
Assembly, an amount to be determined by multiplying the number
of pupils who have completed the school swimming education
program conducted by the school entity by thirty-five dollars
($35).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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