HB 1709 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, providing for employment certification for adjunct and part-time faculty.

PRINTER'S NO.   2102

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1709
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY SMITH-WADE-EL, SANCHEZ, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS,
        WAXMAN, K.HARRIS, HOHENSTEIN, BOYD, D. WILLIAMS, CEPEDA-
        FREYTIZ AND RIVERA, JULY 8, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 9, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in miscellaneous provisions relating
 6      to institutions of higher education, providing for employment
 7      certification for adjunct and part-time faculty.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.     The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12   section to read:
13   Section 2005-I.    Employment certification for adjunct and part-
14               time faculty.
15      (a)   Lecture or classroom time.--A public institution of
16   higher education shall, in completing the employer portion of
17   the employment certification form, credit an adjunct or part-
18   time faculty member with at least 3.35 hours worked for each
19   hour of lecture or classroom time.
20      (b)   Noninstructional faculty.--In completing the employer
 1   portion of the employment certification form for an adjunct or
 2   part-time faculty member with noninstructional assignments, a
 3   public institution of higher education shall credit the employee
 4   hour for hour with no adjustment factor.
 5      (c)   Exemption.--The adjustment factor specified under
 6   subsection (a) may not supersede a higher adjustment factor
 7   established by a public institution of higher education through
 8   a collective bargaining agreement or employer policy in
 9   recognition of the amount of out-of-class work that is
10   associated with instruction, including performance of office
11   hours.
12      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
13   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
14   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
15      "Employment certification form."     The form used by the United
16   States Department of Education to certify an individual's
17   employment at a public service organization for the purposes of
18   the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
19      "Public institution of higher education."    Any of the
20   following:
21            (1)   A community college operating under Article XIX-A.
22            (2)   A rural regional college established under Article
23      XIX-G.
24            (3)   A university within the State System of Higher
25      Education under Article XX-A.
26            (4)   A State-related institution as defined in section
27      2001-C.
28            (5)   The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
29            (6)   The Pennsylvania College of Technology.
30      "Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program."    The Public

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1   Service Loan Forgiveness Program established under 34 CFR
2   685.219 (relating to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
3   (PSLF)).
4      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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