PRINTER'S NO. 3474
No. 2391 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY GIBBONS, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BROOKS, COHEN, DeLUCA,
EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, GEIST AND GEORGE, MARCH 24, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, MARCH 24, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), entitled "An
2 act relating to tax reform and State taxation by codifying
3 and enumerating certain subjects of taxation and imposing
4 taxes thereon; providing procedures for the payment,
5 collection, administration and enforcement thereof; providing
6 for tax credits in certain cases; conferring powers and
7 imposing duties upon the Department of Revenue, certain
8 employers, fiduciaries, individuals, persons, corporations
9 and other entities; prescribing crimes, offenses and
10 penalties," providing, in personal income tax, for
11 contributions for prostate cancer education and prevention.
12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13 hereby enacts as follows:
14 Section 1. The act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as
15 the Tax Reform Code of 1971, is amended by adding a section to
16 read:
17 Section 315.10. Contributions for Prostate Cancer Education
18 and Prevention.--(a) The department shall provide a space on
19 the Pennsylvania individual income tax return form whereby an
20 individual may voluntarily designate a contribution of any
21 amount desired to be utilized for prostate cancer education and
22 prevention, including dissemination of information regarding the
1 incidence of prostate cancer, the risk factors and the benefits
2 of early detection and treatment, as well as provision of
3 screening services and appropriate referral for persons with
4 abnormal results.
5 (b) The amount so designated on the individual income tax
6 return form shall be deducted from the tax refund to which the
7 individual is entitled and shall not constitute a charge against
8 the income tax revenues due to the Commonwealth.
9 (c) The department shall determine annually the total amount
10 designated under this section, less reasonable administrative
11 costs, and shall report the amount to the State Treasurer, who
12 shall transfer the amount to a restricted revenue account within
13 the General Fund to be used by the Department of Health for
14 aiding prostate cancer awareness and prevention.
15 (d) The Department of Health shall develop an application
16 process in order to determine which organizations shall receive
17 funds. Eligible applicants include county health agencies,
18 institutions of higher education, nonprofit State-licensed
19 hospitals, nonprofit health care-affiliated organizations and
20 independent research institutes of this Commonwealth. The
21 department shall award funds to those organizations it deems
22 appropriate.
23 (e) The department shall provide adequate information
24 concerning the checkoff for prostate cancer education and
25 prevention in its instructions which accompany State income tax
26 return forms. The information concerning the checkoff shall
27 include the listing of an address furnished by the Department of
28 Health to which contributions may be sent by taxpayers wishing
29 to contribute to this effort but who do not receive refunds.
30 Additionally, the Department of Health shall be charged with the
20080H2391B3474 - 2 -
1 duty to conduct a public information campaign on the
2 availability of this opportunity to Pennsylvania taxpayers.
3 (f) The Department of Health shall report annually to the
4 respective committees of the Senate and the House of
5 Representatives which have jurisdiction over health matters on
6 the amount received via the checkoff plan and how the funds were
7 utilized.
8 (g) The General Assembly may, from time to time, appropriate
9 funds for prostate cancer education and prevention within the
10 Department of Health.
11 Section 2. The addition of section 315.10 of the act shall
12 apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2008.
13 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
B13L72BIL/20080H2391B3474 - 3 -