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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 143

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 134 Session of 1997


        INTRODUCED BY TRUE, SCHULER, PETTIT, THOMAS, VANCE, MANDERINO,
           BARLEY, RUBLEY, JOSEPHS, BROWN, MILLER, EGOLF, HERSHEY,
           ARMSTRONG, MASLAND, BEBKO-JONES, MUNDY, LAUGHLIN, YOUNGBLOOD,
           MAITLAND, BOYES, STRITTMATTER, GEORGE, HENNESSEY, MARSICO,
           WOJNAROSKI, WALKO, READSHAW, NAILOR, DALEY, GIGLIOTTI,
           CHADWICK, FLEAGLE, HALUSKA, ZUG, CAPPABIANCA, MELIO, FICHTER,
           SANTONI, KELLER, SAINATO, FARGO, MARKOSEK, FAIRCHILD, PESCI,
           JAROLIN, LAWLESS, PLATTS, RYAN, PERZEL, E. Z. TAYLOR, STERN,
           ROONEY, SHANER, OLASZ, BAKER, CURRY, BATTISTO, COY, McCALL,
           LaGROTTA, STURLA, TRAVAGLIO, TANGRETTI, ADOLPH, JAMES, LEH,
           HERMAN, LEVDANSKY, J. TAYLOR AND COLAFELLA, JANUARY 29, 1997

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, JANUARY 29, 1997

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for an income tax refund checkoff for breast and
     2     cervical cancer research; and making a repeal.

     3     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     4  hereby enacts as follows:
     5  Section 1.  Short title.
     6     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Contributions
     7  to Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Act.
     8  Section 2.  Definitions.
     9     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    10  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    11  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    12     "Department."  The Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth.
    13     "Individual income tax."  The tax imposed by Article III of


     1  the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform
     2  Code of 1971.
     3  Section 3.  Space on form for contributions to breast and
     4                 cervical cancer research.
     5     (a)  Use designation.--The department shall provide a space
     6  on the face of the individual income tax return form whereby an
     7  individual may voluntarily designate a contribution of any
     8  amount desired to be utilized for breast and cervical cancer
     9  research in the Department of Health.
    10     (b)  Deduction.--The amount so designated on the individual
    11  income tax return form shall be deducted from the tax refund to
    12  which the individual is entitled and shall not constitute a
    13  charge against the income tax revenues due to the Commonwealth.
    14     (c)  State Treasurer.--The department shall determine
    15  annually the total amount designated under this section, less
    16  reasonable administrative costs, and shall report the amount to
    17  the State Treasurer, who shall transfer the amount from the
    18  General Fund to the Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and
    19  Research Advisory Board within the Department of Health.
    20     (d)  Checkoff information.--The department shall provide
    21  adequate information concerning the checkoff for breast and
    22  cervical cancer research in its instructions which accompany
    23  State income tax return forms. The information concerning the
    24  checkoff shall include the listing of an address furnished by
    25  the Department of Health, to which contributions may be sent by
    26  taxpayers wishing to contribute to this effort, but who do not
    27  receive refunds. Additionally, the Department of Health shall be
    28  charged with the duty to conduct a public information campaign
    29  on the availability of this opportunity to Pennsylvania
    30  taxpayers.
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     1     (e)  Report.--The Department of Health shall report annually
     2  to the respective committees of the Senate and the House of
     3  Representatives which have jurisdiction over health matters on
     4  the amount received via the checkoff plan and how the funds were
     5  utilized.
     6     (f)  Appropriation of funds.--The General Assembly may, from
     7  time to time, appropriate funds for breast and cervical cancer
     8  research within the Department of Health.
     9  Section 4.  Repeal.
    10     Section 12 of the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170),
    11  known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act, is repealed insofar
    12  as it is inconsistent with this act.
    13  Section 5.  Applicability.
    14     This act shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after
    15  January 1, 1997.
    16  Section 6.  Effective date.
    17     This act shall take effect immediately.









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