The Overview

Operating a private licensed school in Pennsylvania without a license now carries a civil penalty of up to $25,000, ten times the previous $2,500 maximum. Pennsylvania's amendment to the Private Licensed Schools Act, SB 1294, became law when Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) approved it on July 20. The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association has said unlicensed schools are more likely to take advantage of students and may not meet the standards required of licensed schools, according to the Altoona Mirror. ​

What the Law Does

The law amends the Private Licensed Schools Act to raise the maximum civil penalty the State Board of Private Licensed Schools may impose from $2,500 to $25,000, a tenfold increase. The board may levy that penalty, by majority vote of its authorized membership, against any licensee that violates the act or any person operating a private licensed school without a license. A civil penalty may be assessed only once per violation, and anyone facing a penalty must have access to the administrative hearing procedure before it is collected.

The higher ceiling applies to commercial driver training schools specifically, but the Private Licensed Schools Act covers a broad range of vocational and trade schools across the state. The bill would raise the maximum fine for illegally operating a trucking school from $2,500 to $25,000, the Altoona Mirror reported.

Legislative Status

Sen. Judy Ward (R-PA-30) sponsored the bill, joined by eight cosponsors: Sens. Camera Bartolotta, Kristin Phillips-Hill, Scott Hutchinson, Wayne Langerholc, Pat Stefano, Scott Martin, Lisa Baker and Elder Vogel.

The Senate passed the bill 48–2 on May 6. The House Transportation Committee cleared it 26–0 on June 16.

Ward said: "Commercial driver's license holders operate the largest vehicles on our roadways," according to FOX43. Ward added that students who attend unlicensed schools risk losing their tuition and walking away without a valid credential, according to the Altoona Mirror.

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