Pa. House passes bill to address inadequate school facilities
Rep. Mary Isaacson June 27, 2023 | 3:01 PM
State Rep. Mary Isaacson, House Education Committee Chairman Peter Schweyer, and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler authored legislation that seeks to address unsafe and inadequate school facilities that are far too common across Pennsylvania. The bill passed the House yesterday.
House Bill 1408 would enact PlanCon 2.0, legislation that was recommended by the Pennsylvania
Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction Advisory Committee, and has not been invested in since 2016. It is a reimbursement program for school construction.
This version of PlanCon 2.0 would allow for a more streamlined application process, an updated reimbursement formula and an incentive for high-performance building standards.
“Our children deserve to learn in healthy and safe environments,” Isaacson said. “They cannot be expected to fully absorb their lessons when they are studying inside buildings filled with toxic lead and asbestos. I have been in classrooms in which it literally rains inside when it pours outside, and this legislation will go a long way towards addressing these facility issues. I have advocated since taking office to fund our facilities and it feels so incredible to see this legislation actually move.”
Isaacson praised her co-prime sponsors for their support in drafting and advancing this important legislation.
The bill passed 142-61 and now moves to the Senate for concurrence.