On November 25, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf signed into law Senate Bill 1216, now Act 136. Act 136 amends the Public-School Code, including provisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and amendments regarding Keystone exams, teacher preparation programs, emergency substitute permits, NIMS/NOCTI Exams, educator evaluations, paraprofessional staff development, 2020-21 testing waivers, non-public … [Read more...] about Omnibus Bill Clarifies Transportation Subsidies, Non-Public Transportation and More
Governor Wolf Vetoes Pandemic Liability Protections for Schools
On November 19, 2020, the Pennsylvania Senate amended and passed legislation requested by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (“PSBA”) to provide COVID-19 liability protections for schools. The amendment, House Bill 1737 (“HB1737”), would provide school entities with limited pandemic liability protections if they followed, or believed with good faith to have followed, CDC and state health … [Read more...] about Governor Wolf Vetoes Pandemic Liability Protections for Schools
Governor’s Attestation Order Raises Questions for School Districts in “Substantial” Counties
Amid cases rising to record levels in Pennsylvania, on Monday, November 23, 2020, Governor Wolf and Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine issued orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. School districts in counties of substantial transmission rates must agree and sign a state certification that they are following the orders of Governor Wolf and Dr. Levine if they wish to continue to … [Read more...] about Governor’s Attestation Order Raises Questions for School Districts in “Substantial” Counties
PA Supreme Court Overturns Case of PennDOT Employee Who Made Threatening Facebook Post
In Rachel L. Carr v. PennDOT and Pa. State Civil Commission, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently overturned a Commonwealth Court’s decision that held a probationary PennDOT employee’s First Amendment rights to free speech were violated when PennDOT fired her for a post on Facebook about school bus drivers. In cases surrounding the termination or discipline of a public employee for their … [Read more...] about PA Supreme Court Overturns Case of PennDOT Employee Who Made Threatening Facebook Post
Public School Code Revision Requires Separation of Perpetrators and Victims of Sexual Assaults
Signed on November 3, 2020, Act 110 (24 P.S. § 1318.1) requires schools to separate perpetrators and victims of rape and sexual assault. Senator Martin, the law’s sponsor, stated the goal of the law is to ensure that victims of sexual assault do not have to uproot their own education and social networks to avoid contact with an abuser. In the past, schools have often taken steps to assign … [Read more...] about Public School Code Revision Requires Separation of Perpetrators and Victims of Sexual Assaults
New Law Addresses Termination of Parental Rights When Child is Conceived as the Result of Rape or Incest
Act 95 of 2020 was signed by the Governor on October 30 and goes into effect in 60 days. The new provision applies to petitions filed on or after December 29, 2020. The Adoption Act allows termination of a father’s parental rights when the child was conceived as a result of a rape or incest. However, the law has also required that an adoption be pending before rights can be terminated. This … [Read more...] about New Law Addresses Termination of Parental Rights When Child is Conceived as the Result of Rape or Incest
