This bill is proposed by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania and is called House Bill No.2024. It was introduced by several lawmakers on February 9, 2024, and has been referred to the Committee on Education.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the act of March 10, 1949, which relates to the public school system in Pennsylvania. The proposed amendments focus on three areas: school athletics and organizations, grounds and buildings, and school health services.

Specifically, this bill aims to provide more rights and accommodations for transgender students in Pennsylvania schools. It states that the board of school directors in every school district should establish and enforce reasonable rules regarding school activities and organizations. These rules should allow transgender students to participate in school athletics according to their gender identity.

Regarding the construction and maintenance of bathroom facilities, the bill requires school districts to provide a suitable number of bathrooms in each building, with a minimum of two for each building, when both sexes are in attendance. The bathrooms should be separate for males and females, and if they are outside the school building, they must have proper screening and separate means of access. The bill also establishes guidelines for cleanliness and regular cleaning of these facilities, using disinfecting materials.

Additionally, starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the bill mandates that newly constructed or renovated school buildings include a suitable number of bathrooms, with at least one gender-neutral bathroom. For larger school buildings, one gender-neutral bathroom should be provided for every two single-gender bathrooms.

Finally, the bill requires school districts to adopt, administer, and enforce a policy that allows transgender students to use all bathrooms and athletic facilities in the district in alignment with their gender identity.

This bill will immediately take effect once it is passed into law.

Rep. Joseph Webster

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