PRINTER'S NO. 143
No. 134 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY TRUE, SCHULER, PETTIT, THOMAS, VANCE, MANDERINO, BARLEY, RUBLEY, JOSEPHS, BROWN, MILLER, EGOLF, HERSHEY, ARMSTRONG, MASLAND, BEBKO-JONES, MUNDY, LAUGHLIN, YOUNGBLOOD, MAITLAND, BOYES, STRITTMATTER, GEORGE, HENNESSEY, MARSICO, WOJNAROSKI, WALKO, READSHAW, NAILOR, DALEY, GIGLIOTTI, CHADWICK, FLEAGLE, HALUSKA, ZUG, CAPPABIANCA, MELIO, FICHTER, SANTONI, KELLER, SAINATO, FARGO, MARKOSEK, FAIRCHILD, PESCI, JAROLIN, LAWLESS, PLATTS, RYAN, PERZEL, E. Z. TAYLOR, STERN, ROONEY, SHANER, OLASZ, BAKER, CURRY, BATTISTO, COY, McCALL, LaGROTTA, STURLA, TRAVAGLIO, TANGRETTI, ADOLPH, JAMES, LEH, HERMAN, LEVDANSKY, J. TAYLOR AND COLAFELLA, JANUARY 29, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, JANUARY 29, 1997
AN ACT 1 Providing for an income tax refund checkoff for breast and 2 cervical cancer research; and making a repeal. 3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 4 hereby enacts as follows: 5 Section 1. Short title. 6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Contributions 7 to Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Act. 8 Section 2. Definitions. 9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 11 context clearly indicates otherwise: 12 "Department." The Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth. 13 "Individual income tax." The tax imposed by Article III of
1 the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform 2 Code of 1971. 3 Section 3. Space on form for contributions to breast and 4 cervical cancer research. 5 (a) Use designation.--The department shall provide a space 6 on the face of the individual income tax return form whereby an 7 individual may voluntarily designate a contribution of any 8 amount desired to be utilized for breast and cervical cancer 9 research in the Department of Health. 10 (b) Deduction.--The amount so designated on the individual 11 income tax return form shall be deducted from the tax refund to 12 which the individual is entitled and shall not constitute a 13 charge against the income tax revenues due to the Commonwealth. 14 (c) State Treasurer.--The department shall determine 15 annually the total amount designated under this section, less 16 reasonable administrative costs, and shall report the amount to 17 the State Treasurer, who shall transfer the amount from the 18 General Fund to the Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and 19 Research Advisory Board within the Department of Health. 20 (d) Checkoff information.--The department shall provide 21 adequate information concerning the checkoff for breast and 22 cervical cancer research in its instructions which accompany 23 State income tax return forms. The information concerning the 24 checkoff shall include the listing of an address furnished by 25 the Department of Health, to which contributions may be sent by 26 taxpayers wishing to contribute to this effort, but who do not 27 receive refunds. Additionally, the Department of Health shall be 28 charged with the duty to conduct a public information campaign 29 on the availability of this opportunity to Pennsylvania 30 taxpayers. 19970H0134B0143 - 2 -
1 (e) Report.--The Department of Health shall report annually 2 to the respective committees of the Senate and the House of 3 Representatives which have jurisdiction over health matters on 4 the amount received via the checkoff plan and how the funds were 5 utilized. 6 (f) Appropriation of funds.--The General Assembly may, from 7 time to time, appropriate funds for breast and cervical cancer 8 research within the Department of Health. 9 Section 4. Repeal. 10 Section 12 of the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170), 11 known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act, is repealed insofar 12 as it is inconsistent with this act. 13 Section 5. Applicability. 14 This act shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after 15 January 1, 1997. 16 Section 6. Effective date. 17 This act shall take effect immediately. A22L72JAM/19970H0134B0143 - 3 -