HB 251 — 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 reporting of partnerships with foreign nations.

PRINTER'S NO.   200

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 251
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY SCIALABBA, KAUFFMAN, M. MACKENZIE, JAMES,
        BERNSTINE AND ZIMMERMAN, JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 22, 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 reporting
 7      of partnerships with foreign nations.
 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.    Reporting of partnerships with foreign nations.
14      (a)   Duty to report.--A public institution of higher
15   education that intends to make an expenditure involving the
16   travel of a student or staff person to a foreign nation for an
17   academic, cultural or research activity or purpose shall submit
18   a report to the department one calendar year before the travel.
19      (b)   Contents of report.--A report under subsection (a) shall
20   include the cost, duration, rubric, source of funds, the purpose
 1   and the benefit derived for this Commonwealth.
 2      (c)   Posting of reports.--The department shall post on its
 3   publicly accessible Internet website a report received under
 4   this section and shall maintain the posting for a period of not
 5   less than five years from the date the report is received.
 6      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
 7   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 8   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 9      "Department."    The Department of Education of the
10   Commonwealth.
11      "Public institution of higher education."     Any of the
12   following:
13            (1)   A community college operating under Article XIX-A.
14            (2)   A rural regional college established under Article
15      XIX-G.
16            (3)   A university within the State System of Higher
17      Education under Article XX-A.
18            (4)   A State-related institution as defined in section
19      2001-C.
20            (5)   The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
21            (6)   The Pennsylvania College of Technology.
22      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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