Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. Education § 20-2005-I. Cooperation

(a) Interinstitutional cooperation authorized.--

(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.--

(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).