HB 769 — 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 physical space for school library or information center; and, in books, furniture and supplies, providing for school library collections.

PRINTER'S NO.   793

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 769
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, KENYATTA, GUENST, SANCHEZ, MADDEN,
        WAXMAN, PIELLI, PROBST, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, KAZEEM, MALAGARI,
        KHAN, FREEMAN, CIRESI AND CERRATO, MARCH 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 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 physical space for school library or information center;
 7      and, in books, furniture and supplies, providing for school
 8      library collections.
 9      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10   hereby enacts as follows:
11      Section 1.     The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
12   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections
13   to read:
14      Section 743.     Physical Space for School Library or
15   Information Center.--(a)    Beginning with the 2026-2027 school
16   year, each public school building shall maintain a physical
17   space for a library or information center that can support the
18   school library collections required under section 811.
19      (b)     The State Board of Education shall incorporate the
20   requirement under subsection (a) into prescribed building
 1   standards, with suggestions to public schools on the best use of
 2   space for minimum requirements of print and nonprint materials
 3   and technology.
 4      (c)    Each public school building that is built or rebuilt
 5   after the revision of the building standards in accordance with
 6   subsection (b) shall conform to the revised building standards.
 7      (d)    A public school board of directors shall determine the
 8   type of physical space required to address the suggestions of
 9   the State Board of Education regarding the best use of space.
10      (e)    The Secretary of Education may deny approval to any
11   school building construction or reconstruction project which
12   fails to meet the building standards prescribed by the State
13   Board of Education.
14      (f)    The State Board of Education shall review the physical
15   space requirements for libraries or information centers every
16   ten years and update the building standards as deemed necessary.
17      (g)    This section shall not apply to a cyber charter school
18   or other public school that provides all education services
19   online.
20      Section 811.    School Library Collections.--(a)   Beginning
21   with the 2026-2027 school year, each public school shall
22   maintain a library collection that includes a variety of both
23   print and nonprint materials and related equipment of sufficient
24   quality and quantity to support and supplement the educational
25   needs of students, including a minimum quantity of one thousand
26   (1,000) items per grade served.
27      (b)    A certified school librarian may direct the development
28   and implementation of a library of a public school.
29      (c)    The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary
30   to implement and administer this section.

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 1      (d)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
 2   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
 3   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 4      "Department."    The Department of Education of the
 5   Commonwealth.
 6      "Items."     Books, films, filmstrips, tapes, records, globes,
 7   slide sets, periodicals, audio-visual equipment, maps and other
 8   materials to supplement the programs of a public school. The
 9   term does not include books classified as textbooks, except when
10   used in limited numbers as reference books.
11      "Public school."    A school operated by a school district,
12   intermediate unit or charter school that provides in-person
13   education. The term does not include a cyber charter school.
14      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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