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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/25/2024 01:00 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=25009
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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 11, 2018 04:09 PM
From: Representative Scott Conklin
To: All House members
Subject: Reformation of the Penn State Board of Trustees (2 bills)
 
In the very near future, I plan to introduce legislation reforming the composition of the Board of Trustees of Penn State.

In 2012, I introduced a legislative package consisting of recommendations made by a report compiled by the Auditor General’s Office, titled “Recommendations for Governance Reform at The Pennsylvania State University after the Child Sex Abuse Scandal.” Although my legislation was not adopted, the Penn State Board of Trustees came up with comprise reforms and implemented them in 2014. While I applaud the Board of Trustees for adopting reforms independent of action by the General Assembly, I question the legality of their reforms as the size and composition of the Board is established in state statute. To that end, I will be reintroducing two pieces of legislation, former House Bills 299 and 310 of 2013.

Document #1

Description: Former House Bill 299, Printer’s Number 309 of 2013 amends the Act of February 22, 1855 (P.L. 46, No. 50), by increasing the composition of the Board of Trustees of Penn State from thirteen to twenty-two trustees- eighteen voting trustees, three voting trustees ex officio and one non-voting ex officio- that reflect the overall interests and expertise of the following entities:
 
  • The Governor (Non-voting);
  • The Secretary of Agriculture;
  • The Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources;
  • The Secretary of Education;
  • The Pennsylvania State University alumni;
  • Pennsylvania county agricultural societies; and
  • Pennsylvania business and industry groups

    In addition, the bill establishes a simple majority of the voting members of the Board of Trustees as a quorum as opposed to the current number of seven. The legislation also creates three-year terms and aggregate term limits of nine years for members of the Board of Trustees over the course of their lifetime. Finally, the bill mandates that the provisions of the act are applicable to both current and prospective members of The Pennsylvania State University Board of Trustees.

I ask that you join me in sponsoring this legislation.
 

Document #2

Description: For House Bill 310, Printer’s Number 310 of 2013 amends the Act of March 24, 1905 (P.L.50, No.35), by making additional revisions to the structure of Pennsylvania State University’s Board of Trustees. Specifically, this measure prohibits the university president from serving as an officer of the Board of Trustees or on any executive committees, standing committees, special committees or subcommittees of the Board. Also, it changes the status of the Governor, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources service on the Board of Trustees to an ex-officio capacity, with the Governor serving as a non-voting member. In addition, the bill requires any individual who has served in the capacity of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor General or State Treasurer to wait until at least four years have elapsed following their official departure from that office prior to serving on the board of trustees. Finally, the measure mandates that the officers of the board be “elected” annually as opposed to “chosen” annually, as the law currently states.
 
I ask that you join me in sponsoring this legislation.