Bill Text: PA HB491 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requiring State agencies to conduct public hearings in certain geographic areas of this Commonwealth prior to implementing pilot programs.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-18 - Referred to INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS [HB491 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB491-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 543
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 491 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY K. SMITH, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, CARROLL, FAIRCHILD, GRUCELA, KORTZ, KOTIK, MILLER, MUNDY, MURT, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, THOMAS AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
AN ACT
Requiring State agencies to conduct public hearings in certain
geographic areas of this Commonwealth prior to implementing
pilot programs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Give
Pennsylvanians a Voice Act.
Section 2. Legislative intent.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The Commonwealth administers various programs
intended to enhance the well-being of its citizens and
promote economic development.
(2) Many of these programs are funded through Federal
and State appropriations, and the ongoing challenge of
maintaining and improving efficiency in these programs is an
ongoing process.
(3) The continual erosion of Federal resources across
all program areas increases pressure on State officials, as
well as the General Assembly, to continue to provide much
needed benefits and services.
(4) Reductions and eliminations in Federal funding
necessitate changes in the administration of programs and
services.
(5) These changes often result in significantly reduced
benefits as well as revisions in how they are administered,
sometimes causing additional administrative burdens on small
vendors.
(6) Before implementing significant administrative
changes, State agencies should provide that portion of the
public to be impacted by the changes with an opportunity to
comment on the potential consequences of the changes.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Executive agency." A department overseeing a specific
industry or program area under the jurisdiction of the Governor
as defined in Article II of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
"North Central." That geographic area of this Commonwealth
that encompasses Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming,
Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and
Union Counties.
"Northeast." That geographic area of this Commonwealth that
encompasses Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe,
Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties.
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"Northwest." That geographic area of this Commonwealth that
encompasses Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie,
Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango and Warren
Counties.
"South Central." That geographic area of this Commonwealth
that encompasses Adams, Berks, Blair, Bedford, Cumberland,
Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster,
Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Schuylkill and York Counties.
"Southeast." That geographic area of this Commonwealth that
encompasses Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and
Philadelphia Counties.
"Southwest." That geographic area of this Commonwealth that
encompasses Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria,
Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland
Counties.
Section 4. Public hearings required.
(a) General rule.--Whenever an executive agency proposes to
make a significant change in the administration of or benefits
available through a program funded in whole or in part with
revenues from the Commonwealth and makes a determination to
implement a pilot program to review the impact of the changes,
the executive agency shall conduct at least one public hearing
in the geographic area of this Commonwealth that will be
affected by the proposed changes.
(b) Statewide pilot programs.--If the proposed changes will
be implemented in a pilot program conducted on a Statewide
basis, at least one public hearing shall be held in each of the
following geographic areas: the Northeast, North Central,
Northwest, Southeast, South Central and Southwest.
Section 5. Effective date.
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This act shall take effect immediately.
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