THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, BRIGGS, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, JOHNSON, DePASQUALE, KIRKLAND, MAHONEY, McGEEHAN, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, STURLA, THOMAS, WAGNER, WHEATLEY, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, DRUCKER AND MYERS, JULY 16, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JULY 16, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled

"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the

executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the

Executive Department thereof and the administrative

departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,

including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or

Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or

authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative

departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and

duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative

officers, and of the several administrative departments,

boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive

and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of

certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and

other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,

and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the

number and compensation of the deputies and all other

assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and

commissions shall be determined," establishing the Green

Economy Center; and providing for an executive director, for

the Green Jobs Fund, for a seed grant program, for a work

force development grant program and for a pathways out of

poverty grant program.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known

as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding an

article to read:

ARTICLE XIX-B

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE

GREEN ECONOMY CENTER

Section 1901-B.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this article

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Center."  The Green Economy Center established under section

1902-B.

"Director."  The executive director of the Green Economy

Center.

"Fund."  The Green Jobs Fund established under section 1904-

B.

Section 1902-B.  Green Economy Center.

(a)  Establishment.--The Green Economy Center is hereby

established within the Department of Environmental Resources.

(b)  Powers and duties.--The center shall have the following

powers and duties:

(1)  Promote and develop jobs and work force training in

the clean energy sector.

(2)  Stimulate the creation and development of new clean

energy ventures, including identifying barriers to creating

and expanding clean technology industry.

(3)  Support existing clean energy companies.

(4)  Attract new clean energy capital and research

facilities.

(5)  Foster collaboration among industry, government,

universities and the financial sector on clean energy

matters.

(6)  Serve as the Commonwealth's clearinghouse for

information on the clean energy industry.

(7)  Perform any other actions appropriate to promote

clean energy in this Commonwealth.

Section 1903-B.  Executive director.

(a)  Appointment.--The Governor shall appoint an executive

director for the center.

(b)  Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the executive

director shall include the following:

(1)  Oversee the operation of the center.

(2)  Make personnel decisions for the center.

(3)  Lead the center in carrying out its powers and

duties under this act.

Section 1904-B.  Green Jobs Fund.

(a)  Establishment.--The Green Jobs Fund is hereby

established in the State Treasury. The center shall establish

guidelines, which shall be published in the Pennsylvania

Bulletin, for the operation and administration of the fund.

(b)  Use of fund.--Moneys in the fund shall be used as

follows:

(1)  Fund seed grants under section 1905-B.

(2)  Fund work force development grants under section

1906-B.

(3)  Fund pathways out of poverty grants under section

1907-B.

(4)  Stimulate increased financing for the construction

and expansion of clean energy research and development

facilities.

(5)  Provide matching grants to educational institutions

in this Commonwealth to develop clean energy technology

curricula and to induce other grant-funding sources to fund

the expansion of research and development in clean energy.

(6)  Promote clean energy manufacturing technology.

Section 1905-B.  Seed grant program.

(a)  Seed grants.--The center shall provide seed grants from

the fund to the following:

(1)  Green and sustainable businesses with priority given

to small businesses and start-up companies.

(2)  Educational institutions or nonprofit organizations

that partner with clean energy companies for work force

placement.

(3)  Small businesses and start-up companies with a

market capitalization under $250,000.

(4)  Certified minority business enterprises.

(b)  Methodology.--The department shall develop a methodology

to determine grant amounts and recipients.

Section 1906-B.  Work force development grant program.

(a)  Work force development grants.--The center shall provide

work force development grants from the fund to educational

institutions, work force development organizations, community-

based organizations and organized labor unions in this

Commonwealth that have existing work force development programs

in clean energy industry skills or the capacity to develop those

programs.

(b)  Methodology.--The department shall develop a methodology

to determine grant amounts and recipients.

Section 1907-B.  Pathways out of poverty grant program.

(a)  Pathways out of poverty grants.--The center shall

provide pathways out of poverty grants from the fund to green

and sustainable companies that provide employment opportunities

for persons having a family income of less than 200% of the

Federal poverty level.

(b)  Methodology.--The department shall develop a methodology

to determine grant amounts and recipients.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.