HB 1472 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in higher education accountability and transparency, providing for economic and workforce impact review by State-related universities; and imposing duties of the Department of Labor and Industry.

Summary

State-related University Accountability Act

Bill Text

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The bill requires State-related universities in Pennsylvania to conduct economic and workforce impact studies before closing campuses, ensuring accountability and community impact consideration.

• Public School Code of 1949

  Section 2007-H. Economic and workforce impact review by State-related universities.

  This establishes a new section requiring economic studies before campus closures.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (a) Legislative findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows: (1) The Commonwealth provides substantial funding to State-related universities. (2) The closure of campuses of institutions of higher education can have severe economic consequences for local communities. (3) Many regional campuses provide essential workforce training programs, such as nursing and skilled trades, that are critical to this Commonwealth's economy. (4) State-related universities must be held accountable for ensuring that campus closures do not create long-term economic or educational harm.

  This provides legislative findings that justify the need for economic impact studies.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (b) Economic and workforce impact study.-- (1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and continuing each school year thereafter, a board of trustees shall conduct an economic and workforce impact study prior to the closure of a campus within the State-related university.

  This mandates that economic and workforce impact studies be conducted before campus closures starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (2) The department shall select an independent research institution to conduct the economic and workforce impact study on behalf of the State-related university.

  This specifies that an independent research institution will conduct the required studies.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (3) The board of trustees shall transmit the results of the economic and workforce impact study to the following: (i) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate. (ii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives. (iii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate. (iv) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives. (v) The department. (vi) A local government affected by the closure. (vii) Any member of the General Assembly who has an affected campus of the State-related university within the boundaries of the legislative district the member represents.

  This requires the results of the studies to be shared with specific legislative and local government stakeholders.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (4) The board of trustees may not approve the closure if the economic and workforce impact study reveals that: (i) the closure will result in significant harm to the local community; or (ii) students will not have reasonable and affordable alternatives to receiving postsecondary education.

  This prevents campus closures if the studies indicate significant harm to the community or inadequate educational alternatives.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (c) Funding contingency.--It is a condition of receipt of payment from an appropriation to a State-related university that the State-related university has complied with this section.

  This ties funding for State-related universities to compliance with the new economic study requirement.

• Public School Code of 1949

  (d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) 'Board of trustees.' The board of trustees of a State-related university. (2) 'Department.' The Department of Labor and Industry of the Commonwealth. (3) 'Local government.' A county, city, town, borough, township or school district in this Commonwealth. (4) 'State-related university.' The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University and their branch campuses. (5) 'Student.' An individual who is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis at a State-related university.

  This section defines key terms used throughout the new provisions to ensure clarity and understanding.

Action History

1. May 21, 2025

   Referred to EDUCATION, May 21, 2025

Sponsors

• Marla Brown · Cosponsor
• Charity Grimm Krupa · Primary
• Jamie Barton · Cosponsor
• Wendy Fink · Cosponsor
• Mark M. Gillen · Cosponsor
• Marc S. Anderson · Cosponsor
• Ryan Warner · Cosponsor

Subjects