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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2013
CONTACT:
Scott Sikorski
717-787-1377
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Senate Passes Corman Bill to Keep
Penn State Fine Money in PA
HARRISBURG -- The state Senate today unanimously approved legislation
sponsored by Senator Jake Corman (R-34) which would ensure that all proceeds
from Penn State’s $60 million fine are used to fund programs within
Pennsylvania.
The fine -- which will go into an endowment for programs to prevent child sex
abuse or help abuse victims – is one of a number of sanctions imposed on Penn
State by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Penn State paid its first $12 million installment into an escrow fund in
December but the NCAA has agreed not to disperse the money while a lawsuit filed
by Corman is pending.
Senate Bill 187 would require Penn State and any other higher-education
institutions that are required by a governing association to pay a penalty in
installments of $10 million or more to deposit those fines into an endowment set
up through the state Treasurer.
Under the measure, the funds will be used for child sexual abuse prevention
efforts, training of mandated reporters and other victim assistance efforts
based in Pennsylvania. The fine money would be held in trust by the state
Treasurer and distributed through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency.
"This fine money is coming from Pennsylvania residents, so it makes sense
that it should stay here to benefit organizations and children in the
Commonwealth," Corman said. "The Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection
recently issued a comprehensive report which points to many worthwhile programs
in our state that could benefit greatly from the fine money. The Task Force
received testimony from more than 60 experts on protecting children and
investigating child abuse, and its recommendations could amount to a virtual
rewriting of the Child Protective Services Law. It’s clear that, whatever
changes are implemented, the Penn State fine money could do an extraordinary
amount of good right here in Pennsylvania."
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