Pennsylvania HB 2095: An Act amending the act of November 30, 1965 (P.L.847, No.356), known as the Banking Code of 1965, in general provisions, further providing for legal holidays.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2691
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2095
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GROVE, PICKETT, KAUFFMAN AND MENTZER,
DECEMBER 9, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, DECEMBER 9, 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 preliminary provisions, providing
for mandate waiver program.
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 a
section to read:
Section 135. Mandate Waiver Program.--(a) (1) Except as
otherwise provided in this section, a board of school directors
may adopt a resolution to apply to the Department of Education
for a waiver of any provision of this act, the regulations of
the State Board of Education or the standards of the Secretary
of Education if the waiver will enable the school district to
improve its instructional program or operate in a more
effective, efficient or economical manner.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), and
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except as otherwise provided in this section, a board of school
directors may contact the intermediate unit of which it is a
member to propose that the intermediate unit apply to the
Department of Education for a waiver of any provision of this
act, the regulations of the State Board of Education or the
standards of the Secretary of Education on behalf of all of the
intermediate unit's member school districts if the waiver will
enable the member school districts to improve their
instructional programs or operate in a more effective, efficient
or economical manner. Upon the receipt of such a proposal the
intermediate unit shall circulate a notice to its member school
districts outlining a proposed waiver application and requesting
a response. The intermediate unit shall submit a waiver
application to the Department of Education on behalf of its
member school districts upon receiving a copy of a resolution
from each of its member school districts signifying approval of
the proposed waiver application. An application may not be
submitted by an intermediate unit under this subsection unless
the boards of school directors of each of its member school
districts have adopted a resolution signifying approval of the
proposed waiver application and transmitted copies of their
resolutions to the intermediate unit.
(b) (1) The application for a waiver shall be in a manner
and on a form developed by the Department of Education and
shall:
(i) Specify the need for the waiver.
(ii) Provide supporting data and information to explain the
benefits to be obtained by the waiver and, when applicable, to
explain the instructional program that will operate under the
waiver.
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(iii) Include an evaluation procedure to determine the
effectiveness of an innovative program or programs; the
effectiveness of a revised instructional program, which shall
include measures of student performance; and the effectiveness
of changes in the operations of the school district.
(2) In developing the application process and form provided
for in paragraph (1) the Department of Education shall:
(i) Create a uniform application form which provides
applicants with the ability to apply for waivers to single or
multiple provisions of this act, the regulations of the State
Board of Education or the standards of the Secretary of
Education through a single application.
(ii) Create a uniform application form which intermediate
units must use when applying for waivers on behalf of their
member school districts.
(3) The Department of Education may not impose any
additional requirements on waiver applicants beyond those
provided for in this section and any additional requirements
relating to the submission or resubmission of a waiver
application.
(c) The application for a waiver shall be adopted by a
resolution of the board of school directors at a regularly
scheduled meeting of the board or, in the case of an application
submitted by an intermediate unit on behalf of its member school
districts, by the submission of resolutions to the intermediate
unit from the board of each intermediate unit member school
district signifying approval of the proposed waiver application.
Resolutions submitted by school districts to an intermediate
unit under this section must be adopted at a regularly scheduled
meeting of the board. Prior to implementing the policies or
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procedures contained in the application, approval by the
Department of Education shall