HB 682 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, providing for air conditioning in student-occupied areas.

PRINTER'S NO.    696

                        THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                            HOUSE BILL
                            No. 682
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, MALAGARI, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI,
        MAYES, SANCHEZ AND HADDOCK, FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 20, 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 grounds and buildings, providing
 6      for air conditioning in student-occupied areas.
 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 743.    Air Conditioning in Student-Occupied Areas.--
13   (a)    By the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year, a school
14   entity shall complete installation of functioning air
15   conditioning in each student-occupied area.
16         (b)   A school entity that is unable to comply with subsection
17   (a) shall submit a plan not later than August 1, 2028, to the
18   department explaining the action the school entity will take to
19   comply with subsection (a) as soon as possible.
20         (c)   (1)   A school entity that has not yet installed air
 1   conditioning in each student-occupied area by the deadline
 2   established under subsection (a) shall develop and implement a
 3   student-occupied area temperature control plan.
 4      (2)     A student-occupied area temperature control plan must
 5   include:
 6      (i)     Procedures to maintain student-occupied area
 7   temperatures between 72 degrees and 79 degrees Fahrenheit during
 8   months in which a heating system is not needed in the student-
 9   occupied areas, to the maximum extent practicable.
10      (ii)     Procedures for closing a student-occupied area when the
11   temperature inside the student-occupied area is above 88 degrees
12   Fahrenheit.
13      (3)     A school entity shall update and resubmit its student-
14   occupied area temperature control plan to the department
15   annually by a date established by the department until air
16   conditioning is installed in each student-occupied area of the
17   school entity.
18      (d)     As used in this section, the following words and phrases
19   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
20   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
21      "Department."     The Department of Education of the
22   Commonwealth.
23      "School entity."     A school district, intermediate unit, area
24   career and technical school, charter school or regional charter
25   school.
26      "Student-occupied area."     An indoor area in which students
27   congregate for educational purposes, including a classroom,
28   cafeteria, gymnasium and library.
29      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.



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