Pennsylvania Act 2023-26 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - REPEALING RELIGIOUS GARB, INSIGNIA, ETC., PROHIBITED AND PENALTY

Act text

Session of 2023

No. 2023-26

SB 84

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 1112 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is repealed:

[Section 1112. Religious Garb, Insignia, etc., Prohibited; Penalty.--(a) That no teacher in any public school shall wear in said school or while engaged in the performance of his duty as such teacher any dress, mark, emblem or insignia indicating the fact that such teacher is a member or adherent of any religious order, sect or denomination.

(b) Any teacher employed in any of the public schools of this Commonwealth, who violates the provisions of this section, shall be suspended from employment in such school for the term of one year, and in case of a second offense by the same teacher he shall be permanently disqualified from teaching in said school. Any public school director who after notice of any such violation fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction of the first offense, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100), and on conviction of a second offense, the offending school director shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) and shall be deprived of his office as a public school director. A person thus twice convicted shall not be eligible to appointment or election as a director of any public school in this Commonwealth within a period of five (5) years from the date of his second conviction.]

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 6th day of November, A.D. 2023.

JOSH SHAPIRO