PRINTER'S NO. 1177
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
954
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY WARD, WOZNIAK, TOMLINSON, ARGALL, RAFFERTY, YAW,
BAKER, YUDICHAK, HUTCHINSON, MENSCH AND SCARNATI,
JULY 15, 2015
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JULY 15, 2015
AN ACT
Establishing a Heritage Areas Program to identify, protect,
enhance and promote the historic, recreational, natural,
cultural and scenic resources of this Commonwealth and to
stimulate community revitalization and economic development
through regional heritage conservation, recreation, tourism
and partnerships; and repealing provisions of The Fiscal Code
relating to heritage areas.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Heritage
Areas Program Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as
the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, created the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and
empowered the department to administer State heritage
conservation programs, such as the Pennsylvania Heritage
Parks Program.
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(2) The Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program consists of
heritage areas, which are multicounty regions located in this
Commonwealth and designated by gubernatorial action that
promotes an appreciation of the history and heritage of the
regions.
(3) Since 1989, heritage areas assist communities in
developing, restoring, preserving and conserving nationally,
State and locally significant historic, cultural, natural and
recreational resources through capital and programmatic
investments.
(4) Heritage areas have successfully demonstrated the
ability to create public, private and nonprofit investment
partnerships leveraging significant investments for every
dollar of Commonwealth funds.
(5) Heritage areas are a key catalyst in regions of this
Commonwealth for economic growth and community development
strategies and investments resulting in tourism promotion,
small business development and the creation of jobs.
(6) The Commonwealth's program has long been recognized,
studied and replicated by other states and the National Park
Service as a model for successful heritage and community
conservation and development.
(7) Due to the success of the program, a targeted effort
should be made to promote this Commonwealth's heritage areas
by providing dedicated funding.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Conservation and Natural
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Resources of the Commonwealth.
"Heritage areas." Commonwealth-designated regions, managed
by nonprofit organizations or governmental entities, which
conserve nationally and State significant landscapes and
develop, protect, interpret and promote their historic,
cultural, natural and recreational resources to stimulate
economic and community development.
"Program." The Heritage Areas Program.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Conservation and Natural
Resources of the Commonwealth.
Section 4. Heritage Areas Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Heritage Areas Program is
established within the department to identify, protect, develop,
enhance and promote the historic, recreational, natural,
cultural and scenic resources of this Commonwealth and to
stimulate community revitalization and economic development
through regional heritage conservation, recreation, tourism and
partnerships.
(b) Administration.--The department shall adopt program
goals, guidelines and policies for the implementation and
administration of the program. The department shall consult with
the heritage areas on an annual basis to discuss program goals,
guidelines and policies.
(c) Funding.--The department shall, under subsection (f),
allocate funds appropriated to the department to the program for
the following purposes:
(1) Management, administration, operation and marketing
of heritage areas.
(2) Planning, implementation, technical assistance and
educational projects and programs related to heritage areas.
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(3) Development, construction, rehabilitation, repair,
acquisition, preservation and enhancement of lands, buildings
and other structures related to heritage areas.
(4) Protection, documentation, interpretation and
promotion of the cultural, natural, scenic, recreational and
historic resources of heritage areas.
(5) Establishment of partnerships and coalitions of
governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations
to assist heritage areas with the implementation of
management action plans.
(6) Any other activities deemed appropriate by the
department.
(d) Use.--A heritage area may use the funding allocated by
the department for the program to provide a grant to another
entity and organization, including a county, municipality,
authority, nonprofit organization, other authorized
organization, private sector firm and business, if the purpose
of the grant meets the requirements of subsection (c).
(e) Eligibility.--In addition to any other funding provided
to a heritage area, a heritage area shall be eligible to apply
for a grant and loan program administered by the department or
other Federal or State agency or entity.
(f) Amount.--
(1) The department shall distribute funds to the program
based on established program goals, guidelines and policies.
(2) The department shall allocate all funds appropriated
annually by the General Assembly for the program and each
State-designated heritage area shall receive a minimum amount
established by the program goals, guidelines and policies.
(g) Administrative use.--The department may use no more than
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5% of the funding appropriated annually for the program for
administrative purposes, including the development of a
strategic plan or other appropriate initiative related to the
administration of the program.
Section 5. Repeal and continuation.
(a) Repeal.--Repeals are as follows:
(1) The General Assembly declares that the repeal under
paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate this act.
(2) Article XVI-J of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343,
No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, is repealed.
(b) Continuation.--This act is a continuation of Article
XVI-J of The Fiscal Code. Except as otherwise provided in this
act, all activities initiated under Article XVI-J of The Fiscal
Code shall continue and remain in full force and effect and may
be completed under this act. Orders, regulations, rules and
decisions which were made under Article XVI-J of The Fiscal Code
and which are in effect on the effective date of subsection (a)
(2) shall remain in full force and effect until revoked, vacated
or modified under this act. Contracts, obligations and
collective bargaining agreements entered into under Article XVI-
J of The Fiscal Code are not affected nor impaired by the repeal
of Article XVI-J of The Fiscal Code.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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