An Act amending the act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1585, No.174), known as the Private Licensed Schools Act, further providing for penalties.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Baker and 8 co-sponsors

SB 1294 tightens penalties under the Private Licensed Schools Act to strengthen enforcement and accountability for noncompliance by private licensed schools.

Re-referred to Appropriations

Purpose and Intent

SB 1294 amends the Private Licensed Schools Act (the act enacted December 15, 1986, P.L. 1585, No. 174) to modify penalties associated with violations of the act. The bill is presented as a targeted update to strengthen enforcement and ensure compliance by private licensed schools operating in Pennsylvania.

Primary aim: Clarify and adjust penalties to improve deterrence and ensure accountability for violations by private licensed schools.

Key Provisions and Changes

Penalties Section Revisions: The bill specifically updates the penalties provided in the Private Licensed Schools Act. While the exact text of the changes is not provided in the summary, the focus is on “further providing for penalties,” indicating adjustments to the severity, structure, or application of sanctions for noncompliance.

Enforcement and Compliance Emphasis: By altering penalties, the bill likely intends to enhance enforcement capabilities of the relevant state department (often the Pennsylvania Department of Education in this context) and address deficiencies or gaps in the current penalty framework.

Note: The available information emphasizes penalties but does not detail new categories (e.g., civil fines, license revocation, probation, fines per day of violation) or specific numeric amounts. The precise wording would be in the bill’s text.

Affected Parties and Scope

Private Licensed Schools: Schools operating under the statutory framework of the Private Licensed Schools Act are directly impacted, as penalties for violations are being amended.

Regulatory Oversight Body: The department or agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Private Licensed Schools Act would implement the revised penalties.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

Referral: As of 2026-04-17, SB 1294 has been referred to the Education Committee for consideration.

Sponsor Roll-Call: The bill lists multiple co-sponsors, indicating bipartisan interest. Notable co-sponsors include Pat Stefano, Scott Hutchinson, Camera Bartolotta, Wayne Langerholc, Elder Vogel, Lisa Baker, Judy Ward, Scott Martin, and Kristin Phillips-Hill.

Legislative Process: Pending committee hearings, potential amendments, and floor action. Any enactment would require passage by both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor’s signature.

Practical Implications

Compliance Burden: Private schools may experience changes to penalties that could affect operating practices, record-keeping, and reporting to ensure adherence to the act.

Deterrence and Accountability: The revised penalties are intended to strengthen accountability for violations, potentially reducing noncompliant practices.

If you’d like, I can extract the exact statutory changes and quantify the penalties once the bill’s text is available, or compare SB 1294 to the current penalties under the Private Licensed Schools Act.

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