HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Several lawmakers in Harrisburg are looking to pass legislation that would require more transparency when higher education institutions decide to close any branches or campuses.
According to the memo circulated by State Rep. Jill Cooper (R), she and six co-sponsors will soon propose a bill that would bring transparency when a public institution of higher education decides to close a branch or campus, a process that lawmakers claim is made “almost entirely behind closed doors.”
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Under current law, the Secretary of Education must approve or disapprove an application by a public institution of higher education to discontinue a branch or campus.
However, currently, no law requires the Secretary to notify the public, the legislature, or the affected community that an application has been filed.
The current law also does not require public comment or a hearing before making the decision to approve the closure.
Per the memo, this proposed legislation would not change who has the authority to approve a branch or campus closure, nor would it give the legislature a veto over the Secretary’s decision. This law would just require that the decision be made in the open.
Under this law, upon receiving a closure application, the Secretary of Education would have to publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and post the full application, along with supporting materials, on the Department’s website.
Furthermore, this law would create a 30-day comment period, and the Secretary’s final determination would have to respond in writing to the objections raised.
The new law would also provide a right to request a hearing for the legislators who represent the affected community, the local government where the campus is located, or a meaningful showing of public interest.
Lastly, the new legislation would eliminate the default approval if the Secretary fails to make a decision within six months.
Co-sponsors of this bill include State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans (D), State Rep. Mike Armanini (R), State Rep. Charity Krupa (R), State Rep. Jamie Walsh (R), State Rep. Chad Reichard (R), and State Rep. Joe McAndrew (D).
Penn State trustees vote to close seven Commonwealth campuses
This legislation proposal comes after Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted to close seven of its Commonwealth Campuses. The application for these closures is currently pending the Secretary of Education’s approval.
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