Regular Session 2023-2024 Senate Bill 0376 P.N. 0298

PRINTER'S NO. 298

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

376

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, SCHWANK, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, MILLER, SAVAL,

SANTARSIERO, COSTA, DILLON, CAPPELLETTI, BREWSTER,

TARTAGLIONE, KANE, KEARNEY AND COMITTA, FEBRUARY 16, 2023

REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, FEBRUARY 16, 2023

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled

"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the

executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the

Executive Department thereof and the administrative

departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,

including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or

Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or

authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative

departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and

duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative

officers, and of the several administrative departments,

boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive

and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of

certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and

other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,

and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and

prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation

of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of

certain departments, boards and commissions shall be

determined," establishing the Commonwealth Housing Council;

and providing for duties of council.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known

as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding an

article to read:

ARTICLE XXVIII-J

COMMONWEALTH HOUSING COUNCIL

Section 2801-J. Scope of article.

This article establishes the Commonwealth Housing Council.

Section 2802-J. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this article

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

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Council." The Commonwealth Housing Council established

under section 2803-J.

Section 2803-J. Establishment of council.

The Commonwealth Housing Council is established.

Section 2804-J. Purpose of council.

The council shall coordinate with executive departments and

agencies regarding the Commonwealth's housing policies.

Section 2805-J. Membership of council.

The council shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development

or a designee.

(2) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.

(3) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Housing

Finance Agency or a designee.

(4) The Secretary of the Budget or a designee.

(5) A member of the Senate appointed by the President

pro tempore of the Senate.

(6) A member of the Senate appointed by the Minority

Leader of the Senate.

(7) A member of the House of Representatives appointed

by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(8) A member of the House of Representatives appointed

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by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(9) The mayor of a city of the first class or a designee

with experience in housing.

(10) The county executive of a county of the second

class or a designee with experience in housing.

(11) One member representing county government with

experience in housing appointed by the Governor from a list

of 16 individuals provided by the county commissioners or

county executives of Adams, Berks, Centre, Cumberland,

Dauphin, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster,

Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, Union and York Counties.

(12) One member of county government with experience in

housing appointed by the Governor from a list of 18

individuals provided by the county commissioners or county

executives of Bradford, Carbon, Clinton, Columbia,

Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour,

Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Sullivan,

Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming Counties.

(13) One member of county government with experience in

housing appointed by the Governor from a list of six

individuals provided by the county commissioners or county

executives of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery

and Northampton Counties.

(14) One member of county government with experience in

housing appointed by the Governor from a list of 13

individuals provided by the county commissioners or county

executives of Armstrong, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield,

Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer,

Venango and Warren Counties.

(15) One member of county government with experience in

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housing appointed by the Governor from a list of 12

individuals provided by the county commissioners or county

executives of Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria,

Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington and

Westmoreland Counties.

Section 2806-J. Administration of council.

(a) Organization.--The Governor shall select a member of the

council to serve as chairperson. The members of the council

shall select from among themselves any other officers as the

council deems necessary.

(b) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the council shall

constitute a quorum. A majority of the members of the council

shall be necessary to take an action of the council. The number

required for a majority of the members of the council under this

subsection shall be reduced if there is a vacancy on the

council.

within 90 days of the effective date of this subsection. The

council shall meet no less than once a quarter.

(d) Initial appointments and vacancies.--

(1) An appointing authority under section 2805-J shall

appoint initial members to the council within 60 days of the

effective date of this subsection.

(2) A member of the council shall serve a term of three

years and may be reappointed for no more than two consecutive

terms.

(3) A member of the council appointed under section

2805-J(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) shall serve a

term concurrent with the appointing authority.

(4) If a vacancy occurs on the council, the designating

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or appointing authority shall fill the vacancy in accordance

with section 2805-J.

(e) Administrative support.--The Office of the Budget shall

provide administrative services and staff to the council.

(f) Compensation.--The members of the council shall not

receive compensation for service on the council.

(g) Cooperation.--Each executive department or agency shall

cooperate with the council in fulfilling the council's duties

under section 2807-J.

Section 2807-J. Duties of council.

(a) Housing strategies.--The council shall develop the

Commonwealth's comprehensive housing strategy that may be used

by executive departments or agencies.

(b) Duties.--The council shall have the following duties:

(1) Developing a unified set of housing-related goals

and priorities that serve as a framework for executive

departments or agencies in the development of housing plans.

(2) Working in collaboration with executive departments

or agencies to develop a uniform set of housing goals,

benchmarks and priorities for this Commonwealth that

coordinate and complement Federal and State funding to

maximize the availability of housing throughout this

Commonwealth.

(3) Developing and updating a State plan no less than

once every five years for the following purposes:

(i) Preserving rental and homeownership affordable

units.

(ii) Building new affordable units.

(iii) Housing for the homeless, seniors, veterans,

individuals with disabilities and other disadvantaged

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groups.

(iv) Housing stability programs and services.

(v) Strategies for expanding access to housing.

(4) Creating and maintaining a consolidated inventory

and resource guide for housing programs and services provided

by executive departments or agencies.

(5) Implementing national best practices research that

may be relevant to this Commonwealth and seeking to benchmark

the Commonwealth's housing programs and outcomes against

other states.

(6) Conducting research or collecting data relating to

the needs, demands and conditions of affordable and workforce

housing and access to affordable and workforce housing.

(7) Ensuring the Commonwealth's comprehensive housing

strategy is developed with the consideration for the needs of

rural, suburban and urban areas in this Commonwealth and

provides the greatest access to safe and affordable housing

throughout this Commonwealth.

(8) Serving as a coordinating resource to ensure that

executive departments or agencies are communicating and

coordinating effectively in order to maximize the collective

impact of their work regarding the Commonwealth's

comprehensive housing strategy.

(9) Working in collaboration with executive departments

or agencies to advance the Commonwealth's comprehensive

housing strategies.

(10) Providing regular updates to the Governor, the

executive departments or agencies and the General Assembly

about the Commonwealth's long-term and short-term housing

goals.

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information about the council's work to the Governor and the

General Assembly and post any relevant information, including

the council's State plan under subsection (b)(3), on a publicly

accessible Internet website.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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