PRINTER'S NO. 5
No. 11 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY HOLL, JANUARY 15, 1997
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 15, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, empowering the Governor to create an
3 Aviation Advisory Committee to provide guidance to the
4 Governor, the General Assembly, the Secretary of
5 Transportation and the State Transportation Commission on
6 aviation matters; providing for the committee's powers and
7 duties; and providing for an annual appropriation.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
11 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
12 CHAPTER 63
13 AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
14 Sec.
15 6301. Short title.
16 6302. Findings and declaration of policy.
17 6303. Definitions.
18 6304. Aviation Advisory Committee.
19 6305. Annual appropriation.
20 § 6301. Short title.
1 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Aviation
2 Advisory Committee Act.
3 § 6302. Findings and declaration of policy.
4 (a) Findings.--It is hereby determined and declared as a
5 matter of legislative findings that:
6 (1) The welfare and vitality of this Commonwealth, the
7 satisfactory movement of people and goods within this
8 Commonwealth and the economic health of Commonwealth
9 industries must be preserved and enhanced.
10 (2) State assistance for the preservation,
11 rehabilitation and improvement of efficient and coordinated
12 aviation transportation services, systems and facilities is
13 essential.
14 (3) The aviation transportation issues within this
15 Commonwealth necessitate that a continuous aviation systems
16 planning process be implemented concerning this
17 Commonwealth's aviation transportation services, systems and
18 facilities and concerning their preservation and improvement.
19 (b) Policy declaration.--The purpose of this chapter is to
20 further the public interest and aeronautical progress by
21 providing for the protection, promotion and development of
22 aeronautics within this Commonwealth.
23 § 6303. Definitions.
24 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
25 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
26 context clearly indicates otherwise:
27 "Committee." The Aviation Advisory Committee created by this
28 chapter.
29 "Department." The Department of Transportation of the
30 Commonwealth.
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1 "Secretary." The Secretary of Transportation of the
2 Commonwealth.
3 "State Transportation Commission." The commission created in
4 section 2011 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175),
5 known as The Administrative Code of 1929, or any successor
6 organization.
7 § 6304. Aviation Advisory Committee.
8 (a) Creation.--There is hereby created an Aviation Advisory
9 Committee, which shall consist of 24 members. The members shall
10 be as follows:
11 (1) The Secretary of Transportation, ex officio.
12 (2) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development,
13 ex officio.
14 (3) The chairman and minority chairman of the Senate
15 Transportation Committee.
16 (4) The chairman and minority chairman of the
17 Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives.
18 (5) Eighteen members of the public representing the
19 areas of concern specified who shall have extensive
20 experience and knowledge of air transportation activities
21 throughout this Commonwealth to be appointed by the Governor
22 as follows:
23 (i) Four representatives from the board of directors
24 of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania.
25 (ii) Two airline representatives, one representing a
26 major airline and one representing a regional airline.
27 (iii) One representative representing aviation
28 manufacturing/maintenance.
29 (iv) Four airport representatives, one each
30 representing general aviation, nonhub commercial service,
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1 small hub commercial service and large hub commercial
2 service airports.
3 (v) One representative representing general aviation
4 fixed base operators.
5 (vi) One representative representing air cargo.
6 (vii) Two representatives representing the
7 metropolitan planning organizations in this Commonwealth.
8 (viii) One representative representing the State
9 Chamber of Commerce.
10 (ix) One representative representing aviation
11 education in this Commonwealth.
12 (x) One pilot representative representing the pilot
13 community in this Commonwealth.
14 (b) Designees.--Each of the members of the committee may
15 designate a representative to serve in his or her stead. A
16 member who designates a representative shall notify the chairman
17 in writing of the designation.
18 (c) Terms of appointees.--The term of all members of the
19 committee appointed by the Governor shall be for three years,
20 excluding the initial term. Any member of the committee may be
21 reappointed for no more than two full successive terms. Any
22 person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the
23 expiration of the term to which his predecessor was appointed
24 shall serve only for the unexpired term. Each member shall serve
25 until the appointment of a successor.
26 (d) Meetings and expenses.--The committee shall meet at
27 least four times every 12 months, but may hold such additional
28 meetings as are called by the chairman or by petition of at
29 least six committee members. The chairman shall provide notice
30 at least 14 days in advance for regular meetings and provide a
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1 minimum of three days' notice for special meetings. The public
2 members of the committee shall be allowed reasonable per diem
3 expenses to be set by the committee. The department shall
4 provide appropriate staff support to enable the committee to
5 properly carry out its function. A majority of the appointed
6 members shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
7 The secretary shall maintain a record of meeting attendance by
8 members and shall provide written notice to members who miss two
9 consecutive meetings. Three consecutive absences of committee
10 meetings by a member shall be grounds for removal if affirmed by
11 a majority vote of the committee. Minutes shall be prepared by
12 the secretary and filed with the committee and distributed to
13 all members. All records shall be a matter of public record.
14 (e) Powers and duties.--The committee shall have the power
15 and duty to:
16 (1) Advocate the promotion and preservation of aviation
17 and the air transportation system in this Commonwealth and
18 propose methods, strategies or technologies that can be used
19 to improve these systems.
20 (2) Provide guidance on the issues listed in paragraph
21 (1) to the Governor, the General Assembly, the secretary and
22 the State Transportation Commission.
23 (3) Promote funding for aviation systems and capital
24 infrastructure improvements.
25 (4) Endorse the department's capital project program
26 prioritization process and provide recommendations on the
27 method for determining priorities among locations.
28 (5) Receive State financial assistance for aviation
29 facility development, including a multiyear capital
30 improvement program.
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1 (6) Guide the department's continuous State aviation
2 systems planning process.
3 (7) Review and promote Federal and State aviation rules
4 and regulations as may be proper and necessary to promote and
5 develop beneficial aviation practices and operations.
6 (8) Promote aviation education opportunities and
7 encourage research and development for aviation safety and
8 security.
9 (9) Define intermodal opportunities for airports within
10 this Commonwealth.
11 (10) Provide a forum for exchange of information
12 concerning the users' view of needs and requirements of this
13 Commonwealth's aviation systems.
14 (11) Address other appropriate aviation issues that
15 arise from time to time.
16 (f) Reports.--The committee shall periodically submit
17 reports of its deliberations and conclusions to the Governor,
18 members of the General Assembly and the State Transportation
19 Commission.
20 (g) Chairperson.--The members of the committee shall
21 annually elect a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary,
22 and a treasurer from among the public members appointed to the
23 committee.
24 § 6305. Annual appropriation.
25 The General Assembly shall annually appropriate the sum of
26 $200,000 from the General Fund to the department, to be
27 deposited into a special account in the State Treasury to be
28 known as the Aviation Advisory Account. The moneys in this
29 account are hereby designated for the sole expenses of the
30 committee for the purpose of assisting the committee in carrying
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1 out its duties under this chapter, including, but not limited
2 to, providing for a continuous State aviation system planning
3 process, and providing for reasonable department administrative
4 expenses in carrying out its duties if expenses are approved by
5 the committee. The funds in this account are a continuing
6 appropriation and shall not lapse. The committee shall also have
7 the power to direct the department on the committee's behalf, to
8 execute contracts and to dispense funds for the purposes set
9 forth in this chapter.
10 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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