Regular Session 2015-2016 Senate Bill 1281 P.N. 1861

PRINTER'S NO. 1861

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

1281

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ, SCHWANK AND WARD, JUNE 2, 2016

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 2, 2016

AN ACT

Amending the act of August 7, 1963 (P.L.549, No.290), entitled,

as amended, "An act creating the Pennsylvania Higher

Education Assistance Agency; defining its powers and duties;

conferring powers and imposing duties on the Governor,

President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Superintendent of Public Instruction and the

Department of Auditor General; and making appropriations,"

providing for board of directors; further providing for

audits and reports; and providing for accountability to

taxpayers.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 8 of the act of August 7, 1963 (P.L.549,

No.290), referred to as the Pennsylvania Higher Education

Assistance Agency Act, amended October 29, 1969 (P.L.283,

No.116), is amended to read:

Section 8. Audits and Reports.--The activities of the

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency under this act

and of any nonprofit corporation established by the agency

shall be subject to the audit of the Department of Auditor

General, but the agency or any nonprofit corporation established

by the agency shall not be required to pay a fee for any such

audit. [It] The agency and any nonprofit corporation established

by the agency shall each make an annual report to the Governor,

and the Legislature showing its condition at the end of the

Commonwealth's fiscal year. The annual report shall include:

(1) A description of how the agency or any nonprofit

corporation established by the agency has maximized the amount

of revenue provided as aid to students, including any specific

measures designed to increase efficiency implemented during the

fiscal year and an estimate of the resulting expenditure

reductions or revenue increases achieved as a result of the

reform.

(2) An itemization of all travel expenses and an itemization

of all other expenses that are a minimum of fifty dollars ($50)

paid to, reimbursed to or paid on behalf of an employe, a member

of the board of directors or any other person, excluding

reimbursement for mileage.

Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 8.1. Accountability to Taxpayers.--(a)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, no employe of

the agency or any nonprofit corporation established by the

agency shall receive a bonus unless included as part of a

collective bargaining agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the

agency shall not make any expenditure on the following:

(i) Retreats for members of the board of directors or agency

staff that cost more than $50 per person.

(ii) Sponsorship of events or activities except those

narrowly tailored to increase access to higher education

opportunities for Pennsylvanians.

(iii) Promotional materials and advertising, excluding

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brochures, mailings, forms or other documents describing agency

programs.

thereafter, the agency shall allocate to the scholarship program

established pursuant to the act of January 25, 1966 (1965

P.L.1546, No.541), referred to as the Higher Education

Scholarship Law, an amount equal to the total expenditures

during the 2016-2017 fiscal year on items prohibited by clauses

(1) and (2). The allocation shall be in addition to any amount

appropriated by the General Assembly and any amount committed by

the agency in the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

(d) For the purpose of this section, a bonus shall be any

monetary compensation given to an employe above and beyond the

employe's annual salary. The term does not include reimbursement

for mileage and expenses for official business.

Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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