PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 546 PRINTER'S NO. 2657
No. 482 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY HERMAN, SEMMEL, WALKO, WAUGH, FEESE, FICHTER,
MELIO, TIGUE, LYNCH, DiGIROLAMO, MAYERNIK, BELARDI, GEIST,
OLASZ, SAYLOR, RAYMOND, STERN, SCHULER, McCALL, D. W. SNYDER,
E. Z. TAYLOR, COLAFELLA, BATTISTO, BENNINGHOFF, McNAUGHTON,
HUTCHINSON, ROBERTS AND CIVERA, FEBRUARY 12, 1997
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 8, 1997
AN ACT
1 Requiring the Department of Community and Economic Development
2 to maintain data regarding research and development affecting
3 the housing industry in this Commonwealth; AND recognizing <--
4 and supporting the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center. and <--
5 making an appropriation.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Housing
10 Research Act.
11 Section 2. Legislative findings.
12 The General Assembly finds as follows:
13 (1) In July 1988 the Housing Research Center was
14 established to provide training, research, technology
15 transfer, consulting and other services to this
16 Commonwealth's residential building industry and to ensure
17 the best technologically advanced and scientifically sound
1 building processes and a more knowledgeable and quality-
2 oriented home-building industry. To reflect the commitment of
3 the center to provide such services to this Commonwealth and
4 its residents, the name of the center was changed to the
5 Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC). The PHRC is
6 devoted exclusively to research aimed at improving the
7 quality of housing and the infrastructure needed to support
8 such housing. To date, this commitment has been strengthened
9 through partnerships with the home-building industry, the
10 Pennsylvania Electric Association, the Pennsylvania Energy
11 Office and the member firms of the Mid-Atlantic Building
12 Systems Council.
13 (2) Home building is a major economic force within this
14 Commonwealth, providing tens of thousands of jobs and
15 generating millions of dollars in tax revenues. To ensure
16 such economic contributions remain a strong and viable part
17 of this Commonwealth's economy and to ensure this
18 Commonwealth's residents have continuing employment
19 opportunities, the PHRC provides valuable services and advice
20 to State, national and international aspects of the housing
21 industry and is expanding into newly opening markets in
22 second and third world countries.
23 (3) The PHRC has gained national recognition for its
24 contributions to the education of young engineers, the
25 training of builders and the establishment and implementation
26 of outstanding research and development for housing consumers
27 and the home-building industry. It studies demographic
28 changes, technological developments and economic and social
29 trends. The PHRC serves as the focal point of informational
30 exchange through conferences, training courses and research
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1 publications.
2 (4) To continue to effectively provide for this
3 Commonwealth's housing demands and the need for out-of-State
4 expansion of the housing industry, this Commonwealth needs
5 to:
6 (i) Support expansion of housing industry research
7 and development activities in this Commonwealth and
8 expansion of out-of-State and international export
9 opportunities to develop a competitive edge over other
10 states' expansion in those areas.
11 (ii) Develop and improve the product--a house, its
12 component parts and materials and the employees who
13 provide these--to provide a more affordable, better
14 quality and technologically advanced product to
15 homebuyers and homeowners.
16 (iii) Improve housing industry productivity.
17 (5) The PHRC conducts research projects that have been
18 identified, developed and approved in concert with this
19 Commonwealth's building community of builders, private
20 companies and utilities.
21 Section 3. Definitions.
22 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
23 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
24 context clearly indicates otherwise:
25 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
26 Development of the Commonwealth.
27 "PHRC." The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, originally
28 the Housing Research Center, a center which gathers and
29 disseminates information, conducts research and development
30 projects and makes other academically based contributions to the
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1 housing industry of this Commonwealth.
2 Section 4. Recognition by department.
3 The department shall recognize the essential role PHRC
4 occupies in the growth of this Commonwealth's economy. The
5 department shall, in cooperation with PHRC, use the fruits of
6 PHRC's efforts to further meet the goals of the department.
7 Section 5. Information sharing.
8 The department and PHRC shall share any information which is
9 acquired by either and which affects the housing industry's role
10 in the economic growth of this Commonwealth. The goal of
11 information sharing shall be to ensure that this Commonwealth
12 develops and maintains global leadership status in the housing
13 industry.
14 Section 6. Data.
15 A copy of any data relevant to the provisions of this act and
16 acquired by either the department or PHRC shall be maintained by
17 the department.
18 Section 7. Annual report.
19 The department shall report annually to the appropriate
20 committee in the Senate and in the House of Representatives
21 regarding both economic and technological advancements made
22 during the immediately preceding year by this Commonwealth's
23 housing industry.
24 Section 8. Appropriation. <--
25 The sum of $250,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
26 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Community and
27 Economic Development to support PHRC in its endeavors to
28 stimulate the economic growth of this Commonwealth through its
29 housing industry projects and programs.
30 Section 9. Effective date.
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1 This act shall take effect in 60 days or July 1, 1997,
2 whichever occurs sooner.
3 SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. <--
4 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
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