HB 575 — An Act amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in professional and occupational licenses, further providing for definitions and providing for policy for the award of academic credit for military training; and making editorial changes.

PRINTER'S NO.   579

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 575
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY BANTA, SCHEUREN, PICKETT, GUENST, M. MACKENZIE,
        HAMM, STAATS, PIELLI, KENYATTA, RAPP, BARGER, FLOOD, ROWE,
        CIRESI, GILLEN AND WATRO, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 12, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 53 (Municipalities
 2      Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
 3      professional and occupational licenses, further providing for
 4      definitions and providing for policy for the award of
 5      academic credit for military training; and making editorial
 6      changes.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Chapter 75 heading of Title 51 of the
10   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
11                                 CHAPTER 75
12             [PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL] LICENSES AND
13              CREDITS FOR MILITARY SERVICE AND TRAINING
14      Section 2.    Chapter 75 of Title 51 is amended by adding a
15   subchapter heading to read:
16                               SUBCHAPTER A
17                          PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
18      Section 3.    Section 7501 of Title 51 is amended by adding a
19   definition to read:
 1   § 7501.    Definitions.
 2      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 3   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 4   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 5      "Institution of higher education."     Any of the following:
 6             (1)   A community college operating under Article XIX-A of
 7      the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
 8      Public School Code of 1949.
 9             (2)   A university within the State System of Higher
10      Education under Article XX-A of the Public School Code of
11      1949.
12             (3)   The Pennsylvania State University, the University of
13      Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University or any
14      other institution designated as State-related by the
15      Commonwealth.
16             (4)   The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
17             (5)   A college established under Article XIX-G of the
18      Public School Code of 1949.
19             (6)   An institution of higher education located in and
20      incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth and entitled to
21      confer degrees as provided under 24 Pa.C.S. § 6505 (relating
22      to power to confer degrees) and as provided for by the
23      standards and qualifications prescribed by the State Board of
24      Education under 24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65 (relating to private
25      colleges, universities and seminaries).
26             (7)   A private school licensed under the act of December
27      15, 1986 (P.L.1585, No.174), known as the Private Licensed
28      Schools Act.
29             (8)   A foreign corporation approved to operate an
30      educational enterprise under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 36 (relating to

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 1      foreign corporation standards).
 2      * * *
 3      Section 4.     Chapter 75 of Title 51 is amended by adding a
 4   subchapter heading to read:
 5                                 SUBCHAPTER B
 6                    PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES
 7      Section 5.     Section 7502 of Title 51 is renumbered to read:
 8   § [7502] 7511.     Retention of licenses and certifications of
 9                  persons entering military service.
10      (a)   General rule.--Any person licensed or certified by the
11   Department of State, Department of Labor and Industry,
12   Department of Education, Insurance Department, Department of
13   Banking or the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training
14   Commission or pursuant to the act of October 10, 1974 (P.L.705,
15   No.235), known as the Lethal Weapons Training Act, to practice
16   any profession or to work at any trade or occupation, who
17   heretofore has or shall thereafter enlist or be inducted or
18   drafted into the military or naval service of the United States
19   in time of war or preparation for national defense during a
20   national emergency, shall not thereby forfeit his or her current
21   license or registration and shall be exempt from any continuing
22   educational requirements or in-service training requirements.
23      (b)   Renewal of license or certification following
24   discharge.--A person shall, after presentation of a discharge
25   from service described under subsection (a) within one year from
26   the date of discharge and payment of the fee prescribed by law
27   for the current renewal period only, be entitled to a renewal of
28   his or her license, certification or registration in the same
29   manner as though:
30            (1)   The renewal had been made prior to the expiration of

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 1      his or her last preceding renewal.
 2             (2)   All intermediate renewal fees had been paid.
 3             (3)   All continuing education or in-service training
 4      requirements have been satisfied.
 5      (c)    Exemptions.--A veteran's military service, education,
 6   training and service experience shall be taken into
 7   consideration by the entities listed under subsection (a) to
 8   determine whether a licensing or certification requirement has
 9   been met by or can otherwise be waived by reason of that
10   military service, education, training or experience. The veteran
11   shall only be required to meet a licensing or certification
12   requirement which has not been met by or waived under this
13   subsection.
14      Section 6.      Section 7503.1 of Title 51 is amended to read:
15   § [7503.1] 7512.      Applicability of [chapter] subchapter.
16      The Pennsylvania Supreme Court may extend this [chapter]
17   subchapter to those licensed to practice law in this
18   Commonwealth.
19      Section 7.      Chapter 75 of Title 51 is amended by adding a
20   subchapter to read:
21                                 SUBCHAPTER C
22                               ACADEMIC CREDIT
23   Sec.
24   7521.    Policy for the award of academic credit for military
25                   training.
26   § 7521.    Policy for the award of academic credit for military
27                   training.
28      (a)    Adoption.--The Department of Education shall adopt a
29   policy for the award of academic credit to a student enrolled in
30   an institution of higher education who has successfully

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 1   completed a military training course or program, or who has
 2   obtained experiential learning, as part of the student's
 3   military service that is applicable to the student's certificate
 4   or degree requirements and is:
 5             (1)   recommended for academic credit by a national higher
 6      education association that provides academic credit
 7      recommendations for military training courses or programs;
 8             (2)   noted on the student's military transcript issued by
 9      any of the armed forces of the United States, including a
10      reserve component or National Guard; or
11             (3)   otherwise documented in writing by any of the armed
12      forces of the United States, including a reserve component or
13      National Guard.
14      (b)    Duties.--The Department of Education shall develop,
15   maintain and disseminate to each institution of higher education
16   a list of military training courses and programs that the
17   Department of Education has deemed qualified for the award of
18   academic credit.
19      (c)    Provision of copy.--Each institution of higher education
20   shall make a copy of the Department of Education's policy for
21   the award of academic credit for military training courses or
22   programs available in the public catalog of the institution of
23   higher education.
24      Section 8.     Section 2167(d) of Title 53 is amended to read:
25   § 2167.    Police training.
26      * * *
27      (d)    Mandatory waiver request.--If a police officer is unable
28   to attend in-service training due to service in the military or
29   National Guard or as a result of injury sustained in service as
30   a police officer, the officer's employer shall request a waiver

20250HB0575PN0579                     - 5 -
1   under section 2164(6) (relating to powers and duties of
2   commission). A police officer whose employer fails to request a
3   waiver as required under this subsection shall not be
4   decertified unless, upon return to service, the officer fails to
5   participate in such in-service training as the commission deems
6   appropriate in accordance with this chapter and 51 Pa.C.S. Ch.
7   75 (relating to [professional and occupational] licenses and
8   credits for military service and training).
9      Section 9.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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