SB 698 — 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, further providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for school buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PRINTER'S NO.   709

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 698
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY COLEMAN, BROWN, VOGEL AND STEFANO, APRIL 30, 2025

     REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 30, 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, further
 6      providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for school
 7      buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 703 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
11   No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended to
12   read:
13      Section 703.    Acquisition of Buildings, Sites for School
14   Buildings and Playgrounds, and Disposing Thereof.--In order to
15   comply with the provisions of this act, and subject to the
16   conditions thereof[, the]:
17      (1)   The board of school directors of each district is hereby
18   vested with the necessary power and authority to acquire, in the
19   name of the district, by purchase, lease, gift, devise,
20   agreement, condemnation, or otherwise, any and all schools and
21   real estate, either vacant or occupied, including lands
 1   theretofore occupied by streets and alleys which have been
 2   vacated by municipal authorities, and to acquire by purchase,
 3   lease, gift or devise, other buildings approved for school use
 4   by the Department of Education as the board of school directors
 5   may deem necessary to furnish school buildings or other suitable
 6   sites for proper school purposes for said district or to enlarge
 7   the grounds of any school property held by such district, and to
 8   sell, convey, transfer, dispose of, or abandon the same, or any
 9   part thereof, as the board of school directors may determine.
10   Approval of the Department of Education shall not be required
11   for school buildings and playgrounds on any school construction
12   project for which State reimbursement is not requested.
13      (2)    The board of school directors of each district may
14   acquire real property by purchase under paragraph (1) for not
15   more than the fair market value. The fair market value of real
16   property for a purchase valued in excess of ten thousand dollars
17   ($10,000) shall be determined by the school directors in
18   consultation with two of the following:
19      (i)    The county assessor.
20      (ii)    A licensed real estate broker.
21      (iii)    A licensed real estate appraiser doing business in the
22   county where the acquisition of property is to be made.
23      (3)    Documents related to the determination of fair market
24   value under paragraph (2) shall be subject to and accessible
25   under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the
26   "Right-to-Know Law," and must be included in the documents made
27   public under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
28      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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