1Establishing the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement
2Commission; and providing for its powers and duties.

3The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4hereby enacts as follows:

5Section 1. Short title.

6This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
7Military Community Enhancement Act.

8Section 2. Definitions.

9The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11context clearly indicates otherwise:

12"Commission." The Pennsylvania Military Community
13Enhancement Commission.

14Section 3. Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement
15Commission.

16(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Military Community

1Enhancement Commission is established within the Department of
2Community and Economic Development.

3(b) Members.--The commission shall be composed of the
4following:

5(1) A member appointed by the President pro tempore of
6the Senate.

7(2) A member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
8Senate.

9(3) A member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
10Representatives.

11(4) A member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
12House of Representatives.

13(5) A member appointed by the Governor who has
14experience at the senior level of the military, such as an
15active duty retired three-star or four-star military officer,
16and who is familiar with the operations represented by the
17installations and organizations stationed in this
18Commonwealth. The member shall serve as the chairperson
19during the absence of the person elected under subsection
20(c).

21(6) At least two members appointed by the Governor who
22are representatives of the military installations or
23organizations stationed in this Commonwealth and who have
24knowledge of the mission and operations of the installation
25or organization they represent.

26(7) At least two members appointed by the Governor who
27are experts in the field of economic development and who are
28knowledgeable in the missions and operations of the military
29in their respective regions of this Commonwealth.

30(8) An executive director appointed by the Governor who

1is employed by the Department of Community and Economic
2Development.

3(c) Chairperson.--A chairperson shall be elected by a
4majority of the commission members.

5(d) Compensation.--Commission members shall not receive
6compensation for their services, but shall receive reimbursement
7for their necessary and proper expenses for attendance at
8meetings.

9Section 4. Commission membership terms.

10(a) Terms.--Commission members shall be appointed for a term
11of two years and serve until their respective successors are
12appointed. A member may be reappointed for additional terms.
13Members appointed by the Governor under section 3(b) shall serve
14at the pleasure of the Governor.

15(b) Vacancy.--If a vacancy occurs on the commission, a
16successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the
17predecessor.

18(c) Absenteeism.--A commission member who is absent from two
19consecutive meetings of the commission without a reasonable
20excuse as determined by the chairperson shall forfeit membership
21on the commission.

22Section 5. Powers and duties of commission.

23The commission shall have the following powers and duties:

24(1) Closely monitoring the activities at the Federal
25level pertaining to any initiative or proposal that will
26affect, either positively or negatively, any military
27installation or organization and defense-related organization
28in this Commonwealth.

29(2) Establishing a viable and long-term relationship
30with each military installation, organization and defense-

1related organization in this Commonwealth.

2(3) Advising on the expansion of economic development
3opportunities and defense-related industry organizations in
4public or private sectors in this Commonwealth.

5(4) Educating and engaging the stakeholders at the
6Federal, State and local levels and in the public and private
7sectors on the enhancement and preservation of the military
8installations and organizations and defense-related
9organizations in this Commonwealth.

10(5) Advocating at the Federal, State and local levels
11for the enhancement of the military installations and
12organizations and defense-related organizations in this
13Commonwealth in order to fully support our nation's military
14at home and abroad.

15(6) Estimating an annual budget for the commission.

16Section 6. Office of Executive Director.

17The Office of Executive Director is established in the
18commission. The office shall be staffed by the executive
19director appointed under section 3(b)(8), a deputy director and
20a mid-level administrative officer to fulfill the commission's
21purpose and responsibilities. Consultants may be employed as
22deemed necessary by the commission.

23Section 7. Report.

24The commission shall report its activities no less than
25quarterly to the Governor or the Governor's designated
26representative.

27Section 8. Effective date.

28This act shall take effect in 60 days.