An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in transfers of credits between institutions of higher education, further providing for definitions and for duties of public institutions of higher education, providing for guaranteed admission and further providing for applicability; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for definitions and providing for transparency and accountability; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, providing for Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program; providing for institutions of higher education and for coordination of higher education; and making editorial changes.
HB 897 updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to streamline credit transfers between public colleges and universities by establishing new definitions and admission standards. The bill guarantees that students transferring with an associate degree or 30 credits will receive full junior standing and face the same admission and retention requirements as students who started at their new institution. It also creates a Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program and mandates specific data reporting to improve transparency and accountability within the higher education system.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2023
Committee Review
Jul 2024
House Passage
Jul 2024
Senate Passage
Jul 2024
Signed into Law
Jul 2024
Introduced Apr 17, 2023
Signed Jul 17, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Jul 11, 2024 · House Jun 26, 2023
How they voted
38–3
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 42
Jul 11, 2024
D
Democratic16
81% Yea
R
Republican26
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
10
Committee
10
Amendments
2
Jul 17, 2024
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
lower
Jul 11, 2024
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments
lower
Jul 11, 2024
Lower · Passed
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed
lower
Jul 11, 2024
Committee
Referred to Rules
lower
Jul 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jul 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as amended
upper
Jul 10, 2024
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Jun 27, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported as amended
upper
Jun 30, 2023
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
Jun 26, 2023
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 26, 2023
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 22, 2023
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Jun 21, 2023
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 13, 2023
Committee
Re-committed to Rules
lower
Jun 13, 2023
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Apr 17, 2023
Committee
Referred to Education
lower
1 primary · 19 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Emily Kinkead
DDemocratic
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
Darisha Parker
DDemocratic
Co
Ed Neilson
DDemocratic
Co
Jeanne McNeill
DDemocratic
Co
Joe Ciresi
DDemocratic
Co
Joe McAndrew
DDemocratic
Co
Joe Webster
DDemocratic
Co
Josh Siegel
DDemocratic
Co
Kristine Howard
DDemocratic
Co
Malcolm Kenyatta
DDemocratic
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