HARRISBURG — State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, led the unveiling Tuesday of a three-bill package of legislation aimed at improving transparency and ethical standards at state-related universities.

Bernstine’s bill would restructure the Penn State University board of trustees. He said Penn State’s board would be the only state-related school affected for now, but he remains open to addressing the other three if necessary.

“Penn State is the largest of the state-related institutions,” Bernstine said. “That’s why it was chosen to deal with first.”

A proposal by Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny/Washington counties, will enhance the universities’ responsibilities under the state’s Right-to-Know Law. He said the bill is still being drafted because legislators want to word the obligations carefully.

“This legislation would greatly expand the statutory obligations of these universities for transparency without compromising the research, medical and other missions so important to Pennsylvania,” Maher said.

A third proposal, from by Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver and Washington counties, would subject members of the board of trustees and other employees to a stricter following of the Pennsylvania Ethics Act.

“The more transparency the taxpayers get, the more they want, and government shouldn’t stand in their way,” Christiana said. “Taxpayers deserve to know their money is being used for the right reasons.”

All three proposals were based on recommendations made by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale in a 2017 performance audit of Penn State.

“These three commonsense measures will go a long way toward ensuring (sic) the transparency and accountability that students, parents and taxpayers deserve,” DePasquale said.