HB 579 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school security, providing for school armed guards.

PRINTER'S NO.   581

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 579
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY BOROWICZ, HAMM, ROAE, M. MACKENZIE, WARNER,
        SCIALABBA, WATRO, BERNSTINE, FINK AND SMITH,
        FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 12, 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 school security, providing for
 6      school armed guards.
 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 a
11   section to read:
12   Section 1317-C.    School armed guards.
13      (a)   Guards and designation.--Within one year of the
14   effective date of this subsection, each school entity that has
15   met the tier 1 baseline criteria for physical security
16   established by the committee shall:
17            (1)   Assign at least one school armed guard to each
18      school building.
19            (2)   Designate a point or points of entry and exit in
 1      each school building through which each individual must enter
 2      and exit, except in the event of a fire drill, school
 3      security drill or emergency evacuation.
 4            (3)   Equip each exterior door of a school building that
 5      has not been designated a point of entry and exit with:
 6                  (i)     a clearly marked sign designating the door as an
 7            emergency exit only; and
 8                  (ii)    an audible alarm that sounds when the door is
 9            opened.
10      (b)   Assignment.--A school armed guard assigned to a school
11   building shall be present at all times in the school building
12   during the school day and extracurricular activities that occur
13   outside the school day in the school building.
14      (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
15   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
16   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      "School armed guard."        An individual who:
18            (1)   Is employed by a school entity or third-party
19      vendor.
20            (2)   Maintains a current and valid certification in the
21      use and handling of a firearm issued under any of the
22      following:
23                  (i)     The act of October 10, 1974 (P.L.705, No.235),
24            known as the Lethal Weapons Training Act.
25                  (ii)    The act of December 13, 2005 (P.L.432, No.79),
26            known as the Retired Law Enforcement Identification Act.
27                  (iii)    44 Pa.C.S. Ch. 74 Subch. C (relating to
28            sheriff and deputy sheriff education and training).
29                  (iv)    53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to
30            municipal police education and training).

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 1      "School building."   A building owned by or under the control
 2   of a school entity where classes are taught or extracurricular
 3   activities are conducted on a regular basis.
 4      "School entity."   The following:
 5          (1)   A school district, intermediate unit, area career
 6      and technical school, charter school, cyber charter school or
 7      regional charter school.
 8          (2)   An approved private school that is participating in
 9      the School Safety and Security Grant Program.
10      "Third-party vendor."   A company or entity approved by the
11   department through the Office for Safe Schools or the commission
12   under section 1315-C(2) that provides school security services.
13      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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