HB 82 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, establishing the School Bus Driver Epinephrine Auto-injector Training Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

PRINTER'S NO.    66

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 82
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, CERRATO, POWELL, FREEMAN, CIRESI, OTTEN
        AND SANCHEZ, JANUARY 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 14, 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 health services,
 6      establishing the School Bus Driver Epinephrine Auto-injector
 7      Training Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department
 8      of Education.
 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 a
13   section to read:
14      Section 1414.13.    School Bus Driver Epinephrine Auto-injector
15   Training Grant Program.--(a)   A school entity may require a
16   driver of a school bus or school vehicle who is employed by, or
17   under a contract with, a school entity to transport students to
18   complete training for the administration of an epinephrine auto-
19   injector under section 1414.9(2) prior to transporting students.
20      (b)   The School Bus Driver Epinephrine Auto-injector Training
21   Grant Program is established within the department for the
 1   purpose of providing school entities with funding to raise
 2   awareness and train drivers of a school bus or school vehicle to
 3   recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions,
 4   including anaphylaxis, and to administer an epinephrine auto-
 5   injector.
 6      (c)   The department shall:
 7      (1)   Administer the program and, in its sole discretion,
 8   establish eligibility criteria and award grants to eligible
 9   school entities that submit a completed application.
10      (2)   Provide notice of the program to school entities.
11      (3)   Develop an application form that school entities may use
12   to apply for a grant under the program.
13      (d)   A school entity that exercises the authority under
14   subsection (a) may apply for a grant under subsection (b).
15      (e)   The grant shall be used by the school entity to fund the
16   establishment and implementation of a school bus driver
17   epinephrine auto-injector training program.
18      (f)   Application must be made to the department in a form and
19   time as the secretary may prescribe.
20      (g)   The department shall use money appropriated for the
21   purpose of the program and may accept funding from public and
22   private sources, including the Federal Government, for the
23   payment of grants under this section.
24      (h)   Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to
25   supersede or preempt any provision of a collective bargaining
26   agreement entered into between a school entity and an exclusive
27   representative of employes of the school entity in accordance
28   with the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the
29   "Public Employe Relations Act," which agreement is in effect on
30   the effective date of this section.

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 1      (i)   In carrying out its powers and duties under this
 2   section, a school entity shall:
 3      (1)   Comply with Federal and State student record
 4   confidentiality laws and regulations, but may, with the consent
 5   of a student's parent or legal guardian, disclose to the driver
 6   of a school bus or school vehicle information about the
 7   student's known allergy or that the student carries an
 8   epinephrine auto-injector.
 9      (2)   Ensure that a driver of a school bus or school vehicle
10   has a clear understanding of Federal and State laws that protect
11   the privacy and confidentiality of student information of
12   students with food allergies.
13      (j)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
14   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
15   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
16      "Department."   The Department of Education of the
17   Commonwealth.
18      "Program."   The School Bus Driver Epinephrine Auto-injector
19   Training Grant Program established in subsection (b).
20      "School bus."   A school bus as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102
21   (relating to definitions).
22      "School entity."    A school district, charter school, cyber
23   charter school, regional charter school, private academic school
24   or nonpublic school operating within this Commonwealth.
25      "School vehicle."   A school vehicle as defined in 75 Pa.C.S.
26   § 102.
27      "Secretary."    The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
28      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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