State House panel approves public

Records bill for state-related universities

HARRISBURG — At a reconvened meeting, a House committee Tuesday approved legislation to open public access to records at the four state-related universities in a sign of possible détente on freeing up state aid to those institutions.

The Democratic- controlled State Government Committee voted unanimously for House Bill 1556 to increase the amount of employee salary information that must be disclosed by Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University.

HB1556, sponsored by Rep. Katie Klunk, R-York, would also provide public access to budget and contract information in online databases at those universities.

Committee Minority Chairman Brad Roae, RCrawford, called the action a good first step in bringing greater transparency to the four state-relateds.

Ms. Klunk has said her legislation addresses a situation where the state-relateds are exempt from certain provisions of the state Right-to-Know Law even though they receive state funding.

State aid to the state-relateds has been in limbo since House Republican lawmakers blocked a $640 million appropriation bill for Penn State, Pitt and Temple in June. The bill needs a two-thirds majority vote to pass in the closely divided chamber.

The House passed a separate appropriations bill for Lincoln, but the Senate hasn’t acted on it.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have argued about the motives behind the stalled aid legislation. GOP lawmakers cited oversight issues and transparency, while Democrats said the real issue for Republicans is culture war issues involving fetal stem cell tissue research and health care for transgender youth.

A panel member, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, said lawmakers should stay in session until the aid legislation is enacted.