PRINTER'S NO. 2727

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

2333

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY KAUFER, THOMAS, COOK, ROTHMAN, PICKETT AND

R. BROWN, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Section 1. Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:

CHAPTER 9

Sec.

901. Scope.

902. Definitions.

903. Commonwealth Economic Development Action Team.

904. Powers and duties of team.

905. Assistance for qualified businesses.

Action Team.

§ 902. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Committee." The Commonwealth Economic Development Selection

and Organization Committee established under section 907(a)

(relating to Commonwealth Economic Development Selection and

Organization Committee).

"Executive agency." A department, board or commission of the

Executive Department which is under the policy supervision and

(1) A meaningful increase in the number of jobs in this

Commonwealth.

(2) A substantial increase in the amount of tax revenue

collected by the Commonwealth.

"Qualified business." A business that is authorized to do

business in this Commonwealth and has received an evaluation

under section 904(c) (relating to powers and duties of team).

"Team." The Commonwealth Economic Development Action Team

established under section 903(a).

"Team member." An employee of the department who has been

Action Team is established as an office within the department.

(b) Executive director.--The team shall be directed by an

executive director. Within 90 days of the effective date of this

section, the committee shall appoint an executive director to

direct the team. The Executive Board established under section

204 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The

Administrative Code of 1929, shall set the compensation of the

executive director.

(c) Staffing.--The executive director shall appoint

individuals, including experienced economic development

professionals, to act as staff of the team as may be

(1) The department shall provide administrative services

and staff to the team. The team shall reimburse the

department for the cost of providing the administrative

services and staff under this paragraph.

(2) The executive director may enter into an agreement

with the department setting forth the rights and obligations

of the team and the department in carrying out their duties

to each other under this chapter and to further the intent of

this chapter.

(f) Appropriation.--The appropriation for the team shall be

(a) Single point of contact.--The team shall serve as a

single point of contact for a business considering moving to,

considering expanding in or seeking to maintain operations in

this Commonwealth.

(b) Regional offices.--The executive director shall

establish appropriate regions and regional offices for the team

across this Commonwealth.

(c) Evaluation.--Upon the request of a business, the team

shall evaluate the needs of the business and a proposed project,

including all of the following:

(1) The overall economic impact of the proposed project.

team member for a qualified business, who shall serve as the

primary point of contact for the qualified business and the

team.

(e) Referrals for assistance.--Upon completing a review

under subsection (c), the team may refer a qualified business

for assistance under section 905 (relating to assistance for

qualified businesses) and other economic development programs.

(f) Survey and feedback.--The team shall annually survey

qualified businesses and provide an opportunity to submit

feedback on the assistance provided under this chapter. The team

performance metrics relating to the actions of the team,

including the data necessary to compile the annual report under

section 908 (relating to annual report).

§ 905. Assistance for qualified businesses.

(a) Site selection.--The team shall do all of the following:

(1) Maintain a site selection database on a publicly

accessible Internet website, which shall include a voluntary

registration of business site locations and information on

available resources.

(2) Provide individualized site selection assistance for

a qualified business.

(3) To the extent permitted by law and policy of an

executive agency, facilitate the permit review and approval

for a project.

(c) Economic development.--The team shall do all of the

following:

(1) Refer a qualified business to economic development

programs and other grant programs that are available to the

qualified business.

(2) At the request of a qualified business, consult with

an executive agency about applications by the qualified

(a) Consultation with team members.--Except as otherwise

provided by Federal law or an applicable duty or privilege, an

executive agency shall agree to consult with a team member for

the purpose of section 905(c)(2) (relating to assistance for

qualified businesses). The executive agency may require a

qualified business to request the consultation under this

subsection in writing.

(b) (Reserved).

§ 907. Commonwealth Economic Development Selection and

(a) Establishment.--The Commonwealth Economic Development

(c) Composition.--The committee shall be comprised of the

following members:

(1) The Governor or a designee.

(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate or a

designee.

(3) The Majority Leader of the Senate or a designee.

(4) The Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee.

(5) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a

designee.

(6) The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives

(d) Operations.--

(1) The committee shall conduct a meeting to organize

within 30 days of the effective date of this section.

(2) The members of the committee shall select a member

of the committee to serve as chair. The chair shall call

meetings of the committee.

(3) The committee shall act upon a vote of the majority

of the members of the committee.

§ 908. Annual report.

(a) Report.--No later than March 31, 2023, and each March 31

thereafter, the executive director shall publish an annual

(2) The number of businesses that were evaluated under

section 904(c) during the prior calendar year.

(3) The number of qualified businesses which received

assistance from the team during the prior calendar year.

(4) To the extent possible, all of the following

information:

for projects which received assistance from the team.

for projects which received assistance from the team.

to the Commonwealth Economic Development Action Team, with the

same force and effect as if:

(1) The allocations and appropriations had been made to

the Commonwealth Economic Development Action Team in the

first instance.

(2) The personnel, equipment, files, records and other

materials of the Governor's Action Team had been the

personnel and property of the Commonwealth Economic

Development Action Team in the first instance.

(3) The contracts, agreements and obligations of the

Commonwealth Economic Development Action Team. Orders,

regulations, rules and decisions which were made prior to the

effective date of this section and which are in effect on the

effective date of this section shall remain in full force and

effect until revoked, vacated or modified by the Commonwealth

Economic Development Action Team. Contracts, obligations and

collective bargaining agreements entered into by the Governor's

Action Team are not affected nor impaired by this act.

Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.