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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	July 26, 2022 11:37 AM
From:	Representative R. Lee James
To:	All House members
Subject:	Heritage Areas

The Heritage Areas program is a critical conservation and tourism promotion program in the Commonwealth. The 12 program-designated Heritage Areas provide a thematic connection between recreation and tourism opportunities across the Commonwealth. Further, the nonprofit organizations and governmental entities that oversee each Heritage Area have demonstrated the ability to create public, private and nonprofit investment partnerships, which maximize every dollar of Commonwealth funds. The program began in 1989 as one of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ community recreation and heritage conservation programs. In Act 46 of 2010 and Act 85 of 2016, the General Assembly codified the program in statute through budget implementation legislation.  As part of the continuous effort to improve the Commonwealth’s statutory framework, this legislation would consolidate the statute governing the Heritage Areas program in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. This will help simplify the management and oversight of the program, while underscoring its importance to the Commonwealth. I look forward to working with you on this important legislation.

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