An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of councils of trus, the official text

HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 297
PRINTER'S NO.  1360
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
327
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GEBHARD, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, PENNYCUICK, CULVER,
KANE, STEFANO, DUSH AND ROBINSON, FEBRUARY 28, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DECEMBER 17, 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 THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER
EDUCATION, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS AND FOR POWERS
AND DUTIES OF COUNCILS OF TRUSTEES.
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in employees, further providing for
automatic certification.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  Section 2168 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
SECTION 1.  THE DEFINITION OF "CAMPUS POLICE" IN SECTION
2001-A OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, AMENDED JULY 17, 2024 (P.L.945,
NO.89), IS AMENDED TO READ:
SECTION 2001-A.  DEFINITIONS.--THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND
PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS
ARTICLE, HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS, RESPECTIVELY, EXCEPT IN
THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES A DIFFERENT
MEANING:
* * *
"CAMPUS POLICE" SHALL MEAN ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL
EMPLOYED BY THE SYSTEM WHO [HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A CAMPUS
POLICE COURSE OF TRAINING APPROVED] ARE CERTIFIED AS POLICE
OFFICERS UNDER 53 PA.C.S. CH. 21 SUBCH. D (RELATING TO MUNICIPAL
POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING).
* * *
SECTION 2.  SECTION 2009-A(A)(13) OF THE ACT IS AMENDED TO
READ:
SECTION 2009-A.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNCILS OF TRUSTEES.--
(A)  IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD, THE COUNCIL OF EACH INSTITUTION SHALL HAVE
THE POWER AND ITS DUTY SHALL BE:
* * *
[(13)  BY RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE
CAMPUS POLICE WHO HAVE COMPLETED FIREARMS TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE
WITH 53 PA.C.S. § 2167(A) (RELATING TO POLICE TRAINING) TO CARRY
FIREARMS IN THE COURSE OF DUTY FOR ANY INSTITUTION WHOSE CAMPUS
POLICE ARE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY FIREARMS ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS PARAGRAPH, THE AUTHORITY TO CARRY FIREARMS SHALL REMAIN IN
EFFECT UNLESS THE COUNCIL BY RESOLUTION DISSOLVES SUCH
AUTHORITY.]
* * *
SECTION 3.  SECTION 2168 OF TITLE 53 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBSECTION TO READ:
§ 2168.  Automatic certification.
* * *
(f)  Fort Indiantown Gap police officer certification.--An
installation police officer at Fort Indiantown Gap under 51
Pa.C.S.    §     711 (relating    to i   nstallation of police officers for
Fort Indiantown Gap and other designated Commonwealth military
installations and facilities)    shall be eligible to maintain
certification if the installation police officer meets the
following:
(1)  Satisfactorily completed the basic educational and
training requirements established under this subchapter.
(2)  Satisfactorily completed the minimum number of in-
service training hours established by the commission and
required to maintain certification.
(3)  Either:
(i)  has an active certification on or after the
effective date of this subsection; or
(ii)  was previously certified as a police officer by
the commission, which certification lapsed within the
last two years, and has been employed, with no lapse in
service, as an installation police officer at Fort
Indiantown Gap.
SECTION 4.  A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY A COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES OF
AN INSTITUTION WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION UNDER
SECTION 2009-A(A)(13) OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, THAT AUTHORIZES
CAMPUS POLICE TO CARRY FIREARMS SHALL BE VOID AND OF NO EFFECT
AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
Section 2 5.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.