Pennsylvania State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 1283, which provides funding for state-affiliated universities, that would require Penn State University to provide information about the Joe Paterno statue.

According to a news release from Bernstine’s office, the university announced July 22, 2012 that a statue depicting Paterno had been removed from its pedestal outside Beaver Stadium and stored in an unnamed location.

The amendment would require Penn State to submit a report to the House and Senate education committees about the whereabouts of the statue, which would be required for the university to receive its annual state funding appropriation. Bernstine said the amendment is about promoting transparency from a state entity.

“At the end of the day, this is about transparency, and an asset that Penn State has,” he said. “For a university that receives $250 million a year from taxpayers, hiding things is not acceptable, and I am hopeful we are able to move this amendment forward.”

Bernstine said the statue’s absence does not serve well the victims of Jerry Sandusky, retired Penn State football coach and convicted serial child molester.

Bernstine also said the university responded to a letter he sent to the president, Neeli Bendapudi, but didn’t provide the answers he was looking for.

“The only response I received was that (the statue) was in good condition and in an undisclosed location,” Bernstine said.