HB 1748 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for the Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in Higher Education.

PRINTER'S NO.   2154

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1748
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, GUENST, HILL-EVANS, WAXMAN,
        HOHENSTEIN, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, RIVERA, D. WILLIAMS, CEPEDA-
        FREYTIZ AND CIRESI, JULY 18, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 21, 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," providing for the Pilot Program for
 6      Homeless Youth in Higher Education.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.     The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11   article to read:
12                                ARTICLE XX‒N
13                      PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
14                            IN HIGHER EDUCATION
15   Section 2001-N.    Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this article
17   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18   context clearly indicates otherwise:
19      "Institution of higher education."       A community college
 1   operating under Article XIX-A or a university within the State
 2   System of Higher Education under Article XX-A.
 3      "Pilot program."     The Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in
 4   Higher Education established under section 2002-N(a).
 5      "Student experiencing homelessness."     A student enrolled in
 6   an institution of higher education who is either currently
 7   without a domicile or who has experienced homelessness within
 8   the past two years.
 9   Section 2002-N.    Establishment and guidelines.
10      (a)   Establishment.--The Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in
11   Higher Education is established in the Department of Education.
12      (b)   Participants.--The State Board of Higher Education shall
13   select six institutions of higher education, consisting of four
14   community colleges and two universities within the State System
15   of Higher Education which are geographically dispersed, to
16   participate in a pilot program to provide assistance to students
17   experiencing homelessness. An institution of higher education
18   chosen to participate in the pilot program shall provide
19   accommodations to students experiencing homelessness, including
20   all of the following:
21            (1)   Access to laundry facilities.
22            (2)   Access to storage.
23            (3)   Access to locker room and shower facilities.
24            (4)   Reduced-price meals or meal plans and access to food
25      banks.
26            (5)   Access to technology.
27            (6)   Access to short-term housing or housing assistance,
28      especially during seasonal breaks.
29            (7)   Case management services.
30      (c)   Housing.--An institution of higher education

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 1   participating in the pilot program may establish plans to
 2   develop surplus property for affordable housing to accommodate
 3   the needs of students experiencing homelessness.
 4      (d)   Resources.--An institution of higher education
 5   participating in the pilot program shall leverage existing
 6   community resources by providing information that is available
 7   for individuals experiencing homelessness, including through
 8   nonprofit organizations, local housing agencies and the
 9   Department of Human Services, to students experiencing
10   homelessness in the pilot program.
11      (e)   Report.--By December 1, 2027, an institution of higher
12   education participating in the pilot program shall provide a
13   report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
14   Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
15   minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
16   Representatives that includes at least the following
17   information:
18            (1)   The number of students experiencing homelessness or
19      food insecurity who were attending the institution of higher
20      education during the pilot program. The State Board of Higher
21      Education shall coordinate with the institution of higher
22      education to collect voluntary data on how many students
23      experiencing homelessness or food insecurity are attending
24      the institution of higher education.
25            (2)   The number of students assisted by the pilot
26      program.
27            (3)   Strategies for accommodating students experiencing
28      homelessness or food insecurity.
29            (4)   Recommendations for legislation to better serve
30      students experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.

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 1      (f)   Voluntary participation.--An institution of higher
 2   education not selected to participate in the pilot program may
 3   participate voluntarily and may submit the report required of
 4   the pilot program participants under subsection (e), regardless
 5   of participation status.
 6      (g)   Expiration.--The pilot program shall operate for a
 7   minimum of two academic years, beginning with the academic year
 8   that starts at least six months after the effective date of this
 9   subsection.
10      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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