Appropriations committee adopts amendment, advances funding package for state-related universities

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday adopted an amendment to House Bill 14 21 and then approved the bill as amended, moving an appropriations package for state-related universities to the House floor.

The committee executive director summarized the measure before the committee, saying the bill "provides funding for the state related universities, the Pennsylvania College of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school." A committee member restated the package, saying Penn State, Pitt and Temple are level-funded while Pennsylvania College of Technology, a Bridal Outreach education program and Lincoln University receive 5% increases.

The committee adopted Amendment A002079, which the chair described as adding a veterinary program (noted in the transcript as "pin vet") and making language changes. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from members including Chairman Harris, Abney, Bellman, Curry, Chairman Struzzi, Barton, Ecker, Coutts and a member recorded as "All summer." Recorded negative votes included Brown, Nelson and Warner. The chair announced "the ayes have it," and the amendment was adopted.

Following adoption of the amendment, the committee held a roll call on HB 14 21 as amended. The chair again recorded the ayes as prevailing and announced that House Bill 14 21 as amended "will pass this committee and be re-referred to the House floor as amended." The transcript records multiple members voting in the affirmative and several voting "designation, no."

No further amendments or debate were recorded in the transcript. The committee concluded consideration of HB 14 21 and advanced the bill to the full House for consideration.

The committee did not provide a written text of appropriation line items in the public transcript; dollar totals and specific line-item allocations were not specified in the available record.