THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY PETRI, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DeWEESE, EVERETT, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, HENNESSEY, KILLION, MAJOR, MICOZZIE, MURT, O'NEILL, RAPP, READSHAW, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, VULAKOVICH AND WAGNER, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Authorizing the incurring of indebtedness, with the approval of

the electors, of up to $150,000,000 for the preservation of

land for open-space uses and for the mitigation of flood

hazards.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Referendum.

Pursuant to the provisions of section 7(a)(3) of Article VIII

of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the question of incurring

indebtedness of up to $150,000,000 for the preservation of land

for open-space uses and for the mitigation of flood hazards

shall be submitted to electors at the next primary, municipal or

general election following the effective date of this act.

Section 2.  Certification.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall certify the question

to the county boards of elections.

Section 3.  Form of question.

The question shall be in the following form:

Do you favor authorizing the Commonwealth to borrow up to

$150,000,000 for the preservation of land for open-space

uses and for the mitigation of flood hazards?

Section 4.  Conduct of referendum.

The election shall be conducted in accordance with the act of

June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania

Election Code, except that:

(1)  Any requirements for advertising or notice related

to the question are hereby waived.

(2)  The requirement for a statement pursuant to section

201.1 of the Pennsylvania Election Code is hereby waived.

(3)  Any authority of the Secretary of the Commonwealth

to determine the form of the question is abrogated.

Section 5.  Use of bond proceeds.

Proceeds of borrowing shall be used as determined by the

General Assembly by law for the mitigation of flood hazards and

to promote the purposes of the act of January 19, 1968 (1967

P.L.922, No.442), entitled, as amended, "An act authorizing the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the local government units

thereof to preserve, acquire or hold land for open space uses."

Section 6.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.