Tens of thousands of students attending Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities will escape a spring tuition surcharge if newly passed legislation becomes law.

Officials with the University of Pittsburgh as well as Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities said as much yesterday after separate Senate bills with state appropriations for each school passed the state House late on Monday.

It was the final legislative approval – more than five months after the fiscal year began – needed to send the measures to Gov. Ed Rendell for his signature or veto. If he takes no action, they take effect after 10 days.

Mr. Rendell and House Democrats have said for months that a constitutional requirement that the state’s budget be balanced meant the schools’ money must wait until the Legislature approves a bill legalizing casino table games.

They contend the extra gambling revenue is necessary to help afford the schools’ subsidy, but Republicans have disagreed.

The House last night approved the table games bill, which now heads to the Senate for a vote as early as tomorrow.

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