Section 1216.1. Professional Educator Discipline Fee.--(a) Except as provided under subsection (d), in addition to any application fee established by the Department of Education, an applicant for certification from the department shall pay a professional educator discipline fee of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(b) The following shall apply:
(1) There is created in the General Fund a restricted receipts account to be known as the Professional Educator Discipline Account.
(2) The Professional Educator Discipline Account shall be funded by money received under this section and any interest derived from funds in the Professional Educator Discipline Account.
(3) The funds in the Professional Educator Discipline Account shall be appropriated to the department for administration, enforcement and adjudication by the department and the Professional Standards and Practices Commission under the act of December 12, 1973 (P.L.397, No.141), known as the "Educator Discipline Act."
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may increase the fee established under subsection (a) if the department determines that the cost of enforcement exceeds the revenue generated by the fee and by all other fees, fines and civil penalties provided for under the "Educator Discipline Act."
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, an individual who is a member of the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard, or a veteran, or the spouse of the member of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of the veteran, may not be required to pay a fee to the department with respect to the individual's certification.
(1) (Deleted by amendment).
(2) (Deleted by amendment).
((d) amended Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)
(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "veteran" shall mean an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard, and who was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.
(1216.1 amended Nov. 3, 2016, P.L.1097, No.143)
Compiler's Note: See the preamble to Act 59 of 2013 in the appendix to this act for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.