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.<\/p>\n
According to the memo<\/a> 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.”<\/p>\n [sailthru_widget name=”Sailthru Widget Block” sailthru_list=”Breaking News” title=”Breaking News Alerts”]<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, currently, no law requires the Secretary to notify the public, the legislature, or the affected community that an application has been filed.<\/p>\n The current law also does not require public comment or a hearing before making the decision to approve the closure.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Lastly, the new legislation would eliminate the default approval if the Secretary fails to make a decision within six months.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n