PRINTER'S NO. 2109
No. 1659 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY CIVERA, BARRAR, CRAHALLA, CURRY, DALEY, FABRIZIO,
HENNESSEY, HORSEY, MARKOSEK, MYERS, NAILOR, PICKETT, PRESTON,
RUBLEY, SEMMEL, TIGUE, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 18, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JUNE 18, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), entitled "An
2 act to enhance community and economic development in this
3 Commonwealth by restructuring certain administrative
4 functions and entities; changing the name of the Department
5 of Commerce to the Department of Community and Economic
6 Development; transferring functions of the Department of
7 Community Affairs into the Department of Community and
8 Economic Development and other agencies; providing for a
9 Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and Development in the
10 Department of Community and Economic Development;
11 establishing the Center for Local Government Services and the
12 Local Government Advisory Committee; establishing the Small
13 Business Advocacy Council; conferring powers and duties on
14 the Legislative Reference Bureau; and making repeals,"
15 providing for a Deputy Secretary for Local Government
16 Services in the Department of Community and Economic
17 Development.
18 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
19 hereby enacts as follows:
20 Section 1. Section 301(b) and (c) of the act of June 27,
21 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), known as the Community and Economic
22 Development Enhancement Act, are amended to read:
23 Section 301. To Department of Community and Economic
24 Development.
25 * * *
1 (b) Functions to be consolidated.--The functions transferred
2 to the department shall be consolidated within the department
3 into a bureau, division, section or other organizational entity
4 devoted to community and economic development and into the
5 Center for Local Government Services under subsection (c). The
6 Governor shall appoint a Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs
7 and Development and a Deputy Secretary for Local Government
8 Services. The [deputy secretary] Deputy Secretary for Community
9 Affairs and Development shall have the powers and perform the
10 functions and duties transferred to the department in subsection
11 (a), except for those functions and duties of the Center for
12 Local Government Services, as well as other such functions and
13 duties authorized by the Governor. The Deputy Secretary for
14 Local Government Services shall be responsible for the
15 administration of the Center for Local Government Services as
16 well as such other functions and duties authorized by the
17 Governor, including the necessary staff complement and funding
18 sources to adequately carry out the responsibilities of
19 administering the Governor's Executive Order 99-1 as it relates
20 to land use issues. Such staffing shall include those personnel
21 presently assigned to land use functions in the department's
22 regional offices.
23 (c) Center for Local Government Services established.--A
24 Center for Local Government Services shall be established and
25 maintained in the department to serve as the link between the
26 Commonwealth and local governments. The center shall be a
27 provider of services to local governments, shall serve as the
28 point of contact for local governments on issues and problems of
29 local concern, shall be responsible for coordinating State
30 program resources in response to local issues and problems and
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1 shall establish a systematic process for addressing local issues
2 and problems involving the resources of more than a single
3 agency. In carrying out its responsibilities, the center shall
4 use and have access to the information, services, functions and
5 other resources transferred under subsection (a). The center
6 shall, when authorized by the Governor, use and have access to
7 any other information, services, functions and other resources
8 in the possession of executive agencies under the Governor's
9 jurisdiction deemed necessary to the fulfillment of its
10 responsibilities. The center shall provide to local governments,
11 at no cost, information on purchase contracts for materials,
12 supplies and equipment entered into by the Department of General
13 Services in which local governments may participate pursuant to
14 the provisions of section 2403(h) of The Administrative Code of
15 1929. The Deputy Secretary for [Community Affairs and
16 Development shall be responsible for the administration of the
17 center and] Local Government Services shall report in writing to
18 the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on the activities of the
19 center. The center shall have permanent staff both in its
20 headquarters as well as in the regional offices of the Governor
21 and shall additionally make a toll-free telephone number
22 available to local governments to assist the center in
23 accommodating requests for assistance. Funding for the center
24 shall be provided by the department.
25 * * *
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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