Section 15201 - Legislative findings and intentThe General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The State-related universities of the Commonwealth have by statute been declared to be instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and members of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education to provide higher educational opportunities for the citizens of this Commonwealth.(2) The General Assembly, desiring and intending that the State-related universities enhance such educational opportunities for citizens of this Commonwealth, has provided to such universities annual appropriations for education and general expenses, thereby reducing the cost of tuition charges for Commonwealth residents.(3) In addition, the Commonwealth has supported and enhanced the educational opportunities provided by State-related universities to citizens of this Commonwealth by including in capital budget acts substantial public funds for the acquisition, construction, renovation and equipping of land, buildings and other facilities for educational and related purposes on the campuses of State-related universities.(4) The citizens of this Commonwealth, through the expenditure of tax revenue, have a substantial investment in such land, buildings and other facilities and in the operations of the State-related universities.(5) By reason of annual appropriations and capital budget acts, the activities and facilities of State-related universities are matters of Statewide concern, serve a public purpose and provide a public benefit to the Commonwealth.(6) The General Assembly has in prior legislative enactments declared that land, buildings and other facilities owned by the Commonwealth or State-related universities and used for higher education are under the entire control and management of the boards of trustees of the State-related universities.(7) Imposition of local zoning and land-use regulations on the activities and real property, buildings and other facilities of State-related universities may constitute an interference with the statutory duties and responsibilities of the State-related universities as instrumentalities of the Commonwealth to extend opportunities for higher education to citizens of this Commonwealth. It is the intent of the General Assembly to recognize that the State-related universities provide a direct public benefit and serve the public purposes of the Commonwealth by declaring the real property owned by State-related universities or owned by the Commonwealth and used by them to be exempt from zoning and land-use ordinances and regulations of cities of the first class. Nothing declared herein shall be interpreted to exempt State-related universities from municipal building codes and regulations that are generally applicable to similar buildings in the city. 1995, June 30, P.L. 167, No. 24, § 1, imd. effective.