Section 2005-I. Cooperation.
(a) Interinstitutional cooperation authorized.--
(1) Notwithstanding 22 Pa.C.S. § 501(c) (relating to appointment by nonprofit corporations), two or more independent institutions of higher education may jointly cooperate in the exercise or in the performance of their respective functions, powers or responsibilities as it relates to university campus police or public safety officers.
(2) For the purpose of carrying out this section, the independent institutions of higher education cooperating to provide shared campus police or public safety officers services shall enter into any joint agreements as may be deemed appropriate for those purposes.
(b) Interinstitutional governmental cooperation.--An independent institution of higher education, by an act of its governing body, may cooperate or agree in the exercise of any function, power or responsibility as it relates to university campus police or public safety officers with, or delegate or transfer any function, power or responsibility of its university campus police or public safety officer to, one or more other independent institutions of higher education.
(c) Effect of joint cooperation agreements.--Any joint cooperation agreement shall be deemed in force when the agreement has been adopted by resolution of the governing bodies of all cooperating independent institutions of higher education. After adoption by all cooperating independent institutions of higher education, the agreement shall be binding and its covenants may be enforced by appropriate remedy by any one or more of the independent institutions of higher education against any other independent institutions of higher education which is a party to the agreement.
(d) Recognition by Commonwealth departments and agencies.--All Commonwealth agencies in the performance of their administrative duties shall deem a consortium-similar entity established by two or more independent institutions of higher education under this section as a legal entity.
(e) Limitations.--
(1) Any joint agreement entered into under the provisions of this section shall not supersede, void or replace any labor agreement between an independent institution of higher education and its campus police or public safety officers.
(2) Any joint agreement entered into under this section shall not be in effect during any labor dispute or labor strike impacting campus police or public safety officers for the independent institutions of higher education subject to the joint agreement.
(3) Any joint agreement entered into under this section shall become null and void if an independent institution of higher education, subject to the agreement, reduces its campus police or public safety officer complement by more than 25%.
(f) Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commonwealth agency." A department, board, commission or any other agency or office of the Commonwealth under the jurisdiction of the Governor.
"Independent institution of higher education." An institution of higher education operated not for profit, located and incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth and entitled to confer degrees as provided in 24 Pa.C.S. § 6505 (relating to power to confer degrees) and which applies to itself the designation "college" or "university" as provided for by the standards and qualifications prescribed by the State Board of Education under 24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65 (relating to private colleges, universities and seminaries).
(2005-I added Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)