During the same weekend session that yielded the legalization of slot machines, the Pennsylvania Legislature quietly created a new PIAA oversight panel.

A late amendment to House Bill 564, which otherwise dealt with funding for the state's public and charter schools, provides for a permanent committee of six legislators that will meet at least once per year to review PIAA matters.

The bill, now known as Act 70 of 2004, was passed unanimously by the House (201-0) and the Senate (50-0) in the early hours of July 4 before it was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell hours later.