Lycoming News

The Senate Education Committee convened today in Harrisburg and advanced three bills with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 1176, sponsored by Senator Cris Dush (R-25), aims to mandate that schools and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) accept cash for admission at school-sponsored activities. Dush highlighted instances where seniors carrying cash were denied entry to high school sporting events due to electronic payment requirements.

House Bill 1990, introduced by Representative Carol Kazeem (D-159), proposes mandatory seizure recognition and related first aid training for school nurses and professional employees every two years.

House Bill 2383, put forward by Representative Jared Solomon (D-202), seeks to establish a mentor volunteer program for schools. This program would link high school students with older adults who wish to share their professional skills and knowledge. The bill stipulates that schools must vet all potential mentors.

As the 2023-24 legislative session nears its end, Senator Dave Argall (R-29) commented on the committee's achievements under his leadership.

“I’m proud of everything we have accomplished in a bipartisan fashion to better prepare our students for the future,” said Argall. “Our institutions of higher education will now be much better prepared for the challenges ahead. We invested in career and technical schools, like Thaddeus Stephens School of Technology and Penn College of Technology. We began addressing the impact of cell phones in schools. And we have taken steps to address the teacher shortages plaguing parts of Pennsylvania.”

For further information, contact Jim Brugger.