S0350B0271A00483 AJB:AAS 05/08/23 #90 A00483
AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL NO. 350
Sponsor: SENATOR ROTHMAN
Printer's No. 271
Amend Bill, page 1, line 4, by striking out the period after
"reports" and inserting
; establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and
Opportunity and the Economic Development Strategy Group; and
providing for their powers and duties.
Amend Bill, page 1, line 9, by inserting after
"Administration"
and Economic Development
Amend Bill, page 2, by inserting between lines 13 and 14
"Office." The Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and
Opportunity established under section 11(a).
Amend Bill, page 2, lines 18 through 23, by striking out "The
term does not include" in line 18 and all of lines 19 through 23
Amend Bill, page 3, by inserting between lines 13 and 14
"Strategy group." The Economic Development Strategy Group
established under section 12(a).
Amend Bill, page 6, by inserting between lines 8 and 9
(c) Tolling period.--If the State agency determines that
the State agency is unable to issue a determination on the
application, the State agency shall specify the information that
is necessary for the applicant to resubmit the application. The
deadlines under subsection (b) shall toll during the time period
commencing on the date when the applicant receives the notice
that the application is an incomplete application or technically
deficient application and the date when the State agency
receives the applicant's resubmitted application. Upon receipt
of the applicant's resubmitted application, the State agency
shall approve or deny the resubmitted application within the
number of business days remaining in the tolled time period.
Amend Bill, page 7, by inserting between lines 22 and 23
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(e) Deemed approval of permit.--If a State agency receives a
completed application, a permit decision delay occurs and the
application has not been submitted to a third-party professional
review as required under subsection (c), the application shall
be deemed approved and the State agency shall issue the permit.
Amend Bill, page 8, by inserting between lines 12 and 13
Section 11. Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and
Opportunity.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Office of
Transformation and Opportunity is established within the
Governor's Office. The office shall facilitate the
implementation of transformational economic development
projects, which will result in substantial quality job
opportunities and capital investment in this Commonwealth by:
(1) coordinating and expediting interagency cooperation;
(2) marshaling Federal and State resources to maximize
economic development opportunities for this Commonwealth to
compete, grow and thrive in a global economy; and
(3) leveraging the role of the Governor to engage the
global business community on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(b) Duties.--The office shall:
(1) Create a systematic process for managing economic
development projects involving the resources of multiple
State agencies to facilitate project management.
(2) Establish and monitor the progress of additional
areas of economic development project support, including
serving as a one-stop shop for coordination of State
agencies, expediting State agency permit and license reviews
and ensuring speed of business review and approval of
Commonwealth economic incentive programs.
(3) Work in partnership with the Department of Community
and Economic Development and all relevant State agencies in
reviewing Federal and State funding applications to ensure
that they maximize the opportunity to attract
transformational economic development projects.
(4) Establish objectives and targets for the
implementation of transformative economic development
projects prioritized by the Governor for this Commonwealth.
(5) Establish and monitor time-based standards for
completion of each phase of a transformative economic
development project.
(6) Work in partnership with the Department of Community
and Economic Development and all relevant State agencies and
coordinate with the Governor's Action Team to ensure that
thorough due diligence is performed for prioritized projects,
which shall include:
(i) Overall economic impact of the project.
(ii) The validity of its business model and
likelihood of positive impact on an identified priority
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industry or sector.
(iii) The impact on communities that have been
disadvantaged and underserved.
(iv) The strength of commitments for private
financing of the project.
(7) Work in partnership with the Department of Community
and Economic Development, all relevant State agencies and the
Governor to develop an overall economic development blueprint
and strategy for this Commonwealth in identifying key
industry and sectors where this Commonwealth has competitive
advantages.
(c) Staffing and administration.--
(1) The Governor shall appoint a Chief Transformation
and Opportunity Officer of the office who shall serve at the
pleasure of the Governor and coordinate the implementation
and development of the duties specified in this section.
(2) The Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer may
hire staff, including economic development specialists, to
perform the duties specified in this section.
(3) The Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer
shall report directly to the Governor and the office shall
operate from the Governor's Office.
(d) Reports.--The office shall prepare and issue an annual
report to the Governor with the first annual report due December
31, 2023, and subsequent reports due December 31 of each
succeeding year. The annual report shall include an analysis and
examination of significant economic development opportunities
gained and lost by this Commonwealth within an identified time
period and recommendations for improvement. The report shall be
delivered to the Governor or the Governor's designee.
Section 12. Economic Development Strategy Group.
(a) Establishment.--The Economic Development Strategy Group
is established within the Governor's Office.
(b) Duty.--The strategy group shall advise the Governor on
economic development projects and processes to attract and
retain employers, recruit leaders of innovation and create
quality jobs in this Commonwealth.
(c) Membership.--
(1) The strategy group shall be chaired by the Governor
or, in the Governor's absence, by the Chief Transformation
and Opportunity Officer.
(2) The strategy group shall consist of the following:
(i) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(ii) The Secretary of Community and Economic
Development.
(iii) The Secretary of Education.
(iv) The Secretary of Environmental Protection.
(v) The Secretary of Labor and Industry.
(vi) The Secretary of Transportation.
(vii) Other members of the Governor's cabinet,
appointed, on an individual project basis, at the
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discretion of the Governor.
(d) Compensation prohibited.--Members of the strategy group
may not receive compensation for performance of their duties on
the strategy group.
Amend Bill, page 8, line 13, by striking out "11" and
inserting
13
Amend Bill, page 8, line 17, by striking out "12" and
inserting
14
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See A00483 in
the context
of SB350