In Harrisburg yesterday, three state representatives introduced companion bills they believe will help solidify the struggling State System of Higher Education.
House Education Committee Chairman Curt Sonney of Erie County unveiled a bill that would grant more control of the State System to the Board of Governors, including giving the board the authority to close schools. That authority currently is in the hands of the legislature and the governor.
Bedford County Representative Jesse Topper’s bill would give State System schools more financial independence, removing restrictions on how certain funding such as tuition and philanthropy could be used.
Bucks County Representative Meghan Schroeder’s bill would reform reporting and statutory language, including making students’ records and emails exempt from the Right to Know law.
The reforms were sought by the State System itself, and Chancellor Dan Greenstein and Board of Governors Chair Cynthia Shapira joined in a news conference yesterday at the capitol.
Representative Sonney said the bills are designed to bring the System schools together.
Chancellor Greenstein used the high cost of nursing programs to illustrate how the new powers would work. He said the board could, for example, create a System-wide School of Nursing and not have to go through the lengthy process of gaining approval from the separate entities.
The companion bills will begin their journey through the legislative process in the House Education Committee.
HERE ARE SUMMARIES OF THE THREE BILLS:
House Bill 2171, authored by Sonney, would reform the governance and accountability of PASSHE’s Board of Governors and the Councils of Trustees. These reforms include authorizing the board to create, expand, consolidate, transfer, dissolve or close an institution or college, which would better empower the board to align the system with Commonwealth workforce needs and enrollment; vesting the board with the power to enforce board policies and require institutions to share services and participate in collaborations, where appropriate; clarifying that the board may delegate duties to the chancellor; clarifying the powers and duties of the Councils of Trustees and presidents; and more.
House Bill 2172, authored by Topper, would make needed financial and legal reforms to PASSHE. These reforms include affirming the system’s sovereign immunity status and status as a government instrumentality; distinguishing between the applicable statutory requirements for state-appropriated and non state-appropriated funds; prohibiting the system from indemnifying third parties; and more.
“The universities in the state’s system of higher education provide a needed service to our students. However, the system faces systemic problems that must be fixed to ensure its viability,” Topper said. “I believe we have a solution that will not only fix these problems but will also put the system on sound footing so that it can continue to provide the kind of education our students deserve at a cost taxpayers can justify.”
House Bill 2173, authored by Schroeder, would make needed reforms to streamline reporting and clarify and update statutory language. These reforms include clarifying language regarding cooperative use or purchasing agreements; removing outdated terminology; easing redundant reporting requirements; and exempting student records and emails from the Right to Know Law.
“There are nearly 100,000 students seeking degrees within this system, and thousands more enrolled in certificate and career-development programs,” Schroeder said. “That’s why it’s so important that we upgrade the system so it continues as a vital component of the Pennsylvania economy.”
