2024 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 21 - RURAL PENNSYLVANIA REVITALIZATION ACT - BOARD OF DIRECTORS, RURAL POPULATION REVITALIZATION COMMISSION, DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION AND MAKING A REPEAL
Session of 2024
No. 2024-21
SB 277
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 30, 1987 (P.L.163, No.16), entitled "An act providing for the revitalization of rural Pennsylvania; establishing the Center for Rural Pennsylvania; providing for rural education partnerships and adult literacy programs; allocating funds appropriated to the Department of Commerce for a Regional Center for Continuing Education of Health Science Practitioners in western Pennsylvania; making appropriations; and making a repeal," in Center for Rural Pennsylvania, further providing for board of directors; establishing the Rural Population Revitalization Commission and providing for duties of the commission; and making a repeal.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 302(a) of the act of June 30, 1987 (P.L.163, No.16), known as the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act, is amended to read:
Section 302. Board of directors.
(a) Members.--The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall be governed by a board of directors which shall consist of [11 members.] members appointed as follows:
(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members from the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members from the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
(3) Two members shall be representatives of universities in the State System of Higher Education. [One member]
(4) Two members shall be from The Pennsylvania State University[.], one of whom shall be from Penn State Extension.
(5) One member shall be from the University of Pittsburgh. [One member shall be the Director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.]
(6) The Governor shall appoint two members from among the memberships of the following Statewide organizations: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, Pennsylvania [Grange Association] State Grange and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
(7) One member shall be from the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College.
(8) One member shall be from the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
* * *
Section 1.1. The act is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 4
RURAL POPULATION REVITALIZATION Commission
Section 401. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the Rural Population Revitalization Commission.
Section 402. 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:
"Commission." The Rural Population Revitalization Commission established in section 403.
"Rural county." A county located in this Commonwealth with a population density less than 291 people per square mile, or as otherwise defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
"Rural school district." A public school district located in this Commonwealth with a population density less than 291 people per square mile, or as otherwise defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
Section 403. Establishment.
The Rural Population Revitalization Commission is established.
Section 404. Duties.
(a) Reviews and recommendations.--After issuing an initial report under subsection (b)(12), the commission shall issue a biennial report on population change in rural areas of this Commonwealth which shall include reviews and recommendations aimed at attracting and retaining residents in rural Pennsylvania while addressing challenges facing rural communities due to population shifts and changing demographics. Reviews and recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas:
(1) Increasing participation in the Federal decennial census.
(2) Attracting and retaining residents in rural Pennsylvania.
(3) Education and career opportunities.
(4) Access to health care.
(5) Affordable housing.
(6) Access to social services.
(7) Current issues facing rural Pennsylvania.
(8) Grant awards and tax credit opportunities for rural Pennsylvania residents and businesses.
(9) Statutory and regulatory costs and impacts on rural municipal governments, businesses and communities.
(10) Other issues facing rural Pennsylvania as identified by the commission.
(b) Additional powers and duties.--The commission shall have the following additional powers and duties:
(1) Review, make findings and offer recommendations related to addressing and mitigating rural population shifts in this Commonwealth.
(2) Consult with and utilize experts to assist the commission in carrying out the duties under this subsection.
(3) Receive input from interested parties.
(4) Hold public hearings in different regions of this Commonwealth. Virtual public hearings may be utilized by the commission.
(5) Review and consider rural development strategies utilized throughout the United States.
(6) Review the administration and operation of State and regional programs and services and make recommendations to implement new policies, statutes and regulations on improving quality of life and attracting residents to rural communities.
(7) Recommend proposed legislation and regulatory changes based on the commission's findings.
(8) Create and maintain a database on rural Pennsylvania's demographic conditions and trends.
(9) Establish subcommittees, including noncommission members subject to the approval of the chairperson, to address specific population change issues.
(10) Provide periodic estimates on the fiscal impact of population changes to local governments, such as projected changes in tax revenue resulting from population changes.
(11) Collect and distribute information about available public grants, services and resources available to rural communities.
(12) Not later than 90 days after the effective date of this paragraph the commission shall convene its first meeting under section 406, and no later than two years after the first meeting the commission shall transmit an initial report of the commission's findings and recommendations to the following:
(i) The Governor.
(ii) All members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(iii) The Center for Rural Pennsylvania's publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 405. Membership.
(a) Members.--The commission shall consist of the following members:
(1) Two individuals appointed by the Governor.
(2) Two members from the Senate appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
(3) Two members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
(4) The director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania or a designee.
(5) A representative from the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.
(6) A young adult selected from a Statewide general farm organization selected by the chairperson.
(7) A representative from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania who holds office in a rural county.
(8) A representative from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania from a rural county with interest or experience in human services.
(9) A representative from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association from a rural school district.
(10) A representative from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry who resides in or operates a business in a rural county.
(11) The executive director of the Pennsylvania Rural Development Council or a designee.
(12) A representative from the State System of Higher Education who represents a university located in a rural county.
(b) Chairperson.--The director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall serve as chairperson of the commission until the commission elects a chairperson from the membership. The members of the commission shall elect a vice chairperson from among the members of the commission. The member elected vice chairperson shall serve in that capacity for the ensuing term.
(c) Considerations.--Members appointed under subsection (a) shall:
(1) have knowledge of problems facing rural communities in this Commonwealth;
(2) have experience in advocacy relating to rural issues; or
(3) provide leadership in programs or activities that improve the quality of life for rural communities or attract and retain residents in rural Pennsylvania.
(d) Terms.--The term of office of all members of the commission shall be two years. Each member shall be eligible to be reappointed to the commission.
Section 406. Meetings.
The commission shall hold its first meeting within 90 days of the effective date of this section, with quorum based upon the majority of the members who have been appointed. The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the chairperson on no less than four different dates annually.
Section 407. Expenses.
The members of the commission shall serve without salary or compensation but shall be entitled to expenses that are reasonable and necessary to perform their duties.
Section 408. Administrative support.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania staff shall provide administrative support, meeting space and any other assistance required by the commission to carry out the commission's duties under this chapter.
Section 2. Repeals are as follows:
(1) The General Assembly declares that the repeal under paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate the addition of section 302(a)(7) and (8) of the act.
(2) Section 311 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, is repealed.
Section 3. The addition of section 302(a)(7) and (8) of the act is a continuation of section 311 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929. Except as otherwise provided in the addition of section 302(a)(7) or (8) of the act, all activities initiated under section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929 shall continue and remain in full force and effect and may be completed under section 302(a)(7) or (8) of the act. Orders, regulations, rules and decisions which were made under section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929 and in effect on the effective date of section 2(2) of this act shall remain in full force and effect until revoked, vacated or modified under section 302(a)(7) or (8) of the act. Contracts, obligations and collective bargaining agreements entered into under section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929 are not affected nor impaired by the repeal of section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929.
Section 4. This act shall take effect as follows:
(1) The addition of Chapter 4 of the act shall take effect in 180 days.
(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect immediately.
APPROVED--The 10th day of June, A.D. 2024.
JOSH SHAPIRO
