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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Mike Hanna |
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Hanna bill to correct funding formula for state-owned universities passes House
HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, said the House of Representatives passed his legislation correcting the funding formula for the State System of Higher Education, which includes Lock Haven University.
The bill (H.B. 1295) would transfer the entire amount of revenue in the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2006-07 to SSHE, and would also change the revenue formula for the future to ensure more equitable funding.
Hanna said SSHE does not receive funding from money deposited in prior years like the other agencies under the program. Instead, it gets quarterly payments from the fund in the same year the money is deposited.
“This puts the State System at a disadvantage because there isn’t as much funding available with the quarterly, same-year payment. It gets less money than it would if the formula would be changed to bring it on an even keel with the other agencies,” Hanna said.
"We need to provide adequate support for higher education, particularly the 14 universities in the State System, because they provide many Pennsylvania residents with a high-quality education at a reasonable price.”
The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund generally allocates money to SSHE, the state Departments of Education, Environmental Resources and Community Affairs, land trusts, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and for general purposes.
The fund provides, through a $50 million bond, financial assistance for nature preserves, wildlife habitats, improvements and expansion of state parks, community parks and recreation facilities, historic sites, zoos, and public libraries. A portion of the state realty transfer tax is also used for the fund.
The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
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