PRINTER'S NO. 4214
No. 2775 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY ZUG, FAIRCHILD, HERSHEY, ARMSTRONG, BOYD, BUNT,
CAPPELLI, CRAHALLA, DALEY, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HERMAN,
HORSEY, JAMES, MAJOR, REICHLEY, SCAVELLO, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY,
STURLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JUNE 29, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, JUNE 29, 2004
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Program;
2 providing for the issuance of grants and for the powers and
3 duties of the Department of Education; and making an
4 appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Chesapeake
9 Bay Watershed Education Program Act.
10 Section 2. Legislative findings and intent.
11 (a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows:
12 (1) The Chesapeake Bay is America's largest and most
13 biologically diverse estuary and the bay and its tributaries
14 have been important to our economy, traditions and culture.
15 (2) In 1983, the Commonwealth along with the states of
16 Maryland and Virginia, the District of Columbia and the
17 Environmental Protection Agency entered into the first
1 Chesapeake Bay Agreement in an effort to protect and restore
2 the bay's ecosystem.
3 (3) In 2002, the Commonwealth renewed its commitment and
4 entered into a new agreement entitled Chesapeake 2002, which
5 recognizes that the condition of the bay is dependent upon
6 the actions of every citizen who resides in the watershed.
7 (4) The Chesapeake 2002 agreement commits the
8 Commonwealth to make watershed education and outreach a
9 priority.
10 (b) Intent.--It is the intent of the General Assembly to
11 develop policies that work to improve the bay's ecosystem and
12 accomplish the goals of Chesapeake 2002, which include expanding
13 watershed education school curricula and providing students with
14 opportunities to directly participate in meaningful bay or
15 stream outdoor experiences.
16 Section 3. Definitions.
17 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
18 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
19 context clearly indicates otherwise:
20 "Department." The Department of Education of the
21 Commonwealth.
22 "Program." The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Program.
23 "School." A public or nonpublic school located within this
24 Commonwealth.
25 Section 4. Establishment of program.
26 The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Program is established
27 within the department to provide grants to schools to promote
28 the teaching of watershed education and afford students the
29 opportunity to participate in meaningful bay or stream outdoor
30 experiences.
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1 Section 5. Program requirements.
2 An eligible school shall apply for a grant under this program
3 as prescribed by the department. The application shall, at a
4 minimum, contain the following:
5 (1) A description of the school's watershed education
6 program.
7 (2) A description of the outdoor watershed experiences
8 that the school offers or intends to offer for students.
9 (3) A description of how the grant funds will be
10 utilized.
11 (4) A summary of the educational benefits accruing to
12 students as a result of the program.
13 (5) The number of students participating in the school's
14 program and the grade level of participating students.
15 Section 6. Powers and duties of department.
16 The department shall:
17 (1) Administer the program and develop an application
18 procedure for awarding grants under the program.
19 (2) Beginning in 2005, submit a report by December 31 of
20 each year to the chairman and minority chairman of the
21 Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and
22 minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of
23 Representatives that includes a list of the schools receiving
24 grant awards under the program and the dollar amount of each
25 award.
26 (3) Allocate grants under the program to eligible
27 schools from funds appropriated for this purpose, provided
28 that no grant may exceed $5,000.
29 (4) Utilize not more than 20% of the funds appropriated
30 for the program for program administration.
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1 (5) Evaluate and distribute curriculum materials, which
2 schools may utilize for the program.
3 (6) Provide professional development workshops through
4 State agencies and nonprofit organizations for watershed
5 education for teachers.
6 Section 7. Appropriation.
7 The sum of $500,000 is hereby appropriated to the Department
8 of Education for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Program.
9 Section 8. Effective date.
10 This act shall take effect July 1, 2004, or immediately,
11 whichever is later.
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