PRINTER'S NO. 2821
No. 2144 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY BARD, HERMAN, HENNESSEY, YOUNGBLOOD, PISTELLA,
BELARDI, BAKER, BELFANTI, LAUGHLIN, SAINATO, RAMOS, ORIE,
C. WILLIAMS, BROWNE, DALLY AND SEYFERT, JANUARY 27, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 27, 1998
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Pennsylvania Public Service Award, criteria and
2 a selection process for the award; establishing the
3 Pennsylvania Public Service Award Fund; and providing for
4 presentation of the award.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
9 Public Service Award Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Award." The Pennsylvania Public Service Award established
15 under this act.
16 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Public Service Award
17 Commission established in section 4.
18 "Selection committee." The Pennsylvania Public Service Award
1 Selection Committee established in section 5.
2 Section 3. Pennsylvania Public Service Award.
3 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the
4 Pennsylvania Public Service Award, which recognizes the highest
5 level of achievement in public service.
6 (b) Award categories.--Ten awards shall be made annually in
7 each of the following categories:
8 (1) Individuals who have made a significant contribution
9 to their communities, the Commonwealth, or both.
10 (2) Legally constituted nonprofit organizations which
11 have provided a significant service to the Commonwealth.
12 (c) Presentation of award.--The Governor shall annually
13 present the awards at a ceremony as deemed proper.
14 (d) Limitation.--No individual or organization shall be
15 eligible to receive more than one Pennsylvania Public Service
16 Award in a five-year period.
17 (e) Criteria for award qualification.--An individual or
18 organization may qualify for an award under this act only if:
19 (1) Nomination material submitted to the commission on
20 behalf of the individual or organization is complete.
21 (2) The individual or organization permits, if
22 necessary, an independent evaluation of its contribution to
23 the community, the Commonwealth, or both.
24 Section 4. Pennsylvania Public Service Award Commission.
25 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established, for a
26 period not to exceed one year from the effective date of this
27 act, the Pennsylvania Public Service Award Commission. The
28 commission shall consist of the following members:
29 (1) The Lieutenant Governor.
30 (2) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development.
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1 (3) The Secretary of Labor and Industry.
2 (4) Two members of the Senate appointed by the President
3 pro tempore of the Senate.
4 (5) Two members of the Senate appointed by the Minority
5 Leader of the Senate.
6 (6) Two members of the House of Representatives
7 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
8 (7) Two members of the House of Representatives
9 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
10 Representatives.
11 (b) Powers and duties.--The commission shall have the
12 following powers and its duties shall be to:
13 (1) Establish procedures for submitting and evaluating
14 award nominations.
15 (2) Establish criteria for award qualification, which
16 includes, but is not limited to, the criteria set forth in
17 section 3(e).
18 (3) Elect from its members a chairperson.
19 (4) Publicize the award program.
20 (5) For the first year of the award program only,
21 appoint a 20-member selection committee, as specified in
22 section 5.
23 Section 5. Pennsylvania Public Service Award Selection
24 Committee.
25 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the
26 Pennsylvania Public Service Award Selection Committee. During
27 the first year of the award program only, the selection
28 committee shall be appointed by the commission and shall consist
29 of 20 representatives of nonprofit or volunteer organizations or
30 both located in this Commonwealth. The selection committee shall
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1 be reconstituted each subsequent year and shall consist of the
2 previous year's award winners.
3 (b) Powers and duties.--The selection committee shall have
4 the following powers and its duties shall be to:
5 (1) Evaluate nominations received by the commission.
6 (2) Select annual award winners from among all qualified
7 nominees.
8 (3) Periodically review nomination procedures and award
9 criteria and revise as needed.
10 (4) Publicize the award program.
11 Section 6. Nominations.
12 (a) Legislative nominees.--Each member of the Senate and the
13 House of Representatives may annually nominate to receive the
14 award no more than:
15 (1) One individual who resides in the member's district
16 and who has made a significant contribution to that
17 individual's community, the Commonwealth, or both.
18 (2) One legally constituted nonprofit organization which
19 is located in the member's district and which has provided a
20 significant service to the community, the Commonwealth, or
21 both.
22 (b) Executive nominees.--The Governor may annually nominate
23 to receive the award no more than:
24 (1) Ten individuals, each of whom resides in this
25 Commonwealth and has made a significant contribution to his
26 community, the Commonwealth, or both.
27 (2) Ten legally constituted nonprofit organizations each
28 of which is located in this Commonwealth and has provided a
29 significant service to the community, the Commonwealth, or
30 both.
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1 (c) Citizen nominees.--The commission also shall accept
2 award nominations from any individual who resides in or any
3 legally constituted nonprofit organization located in this
4 Commonwealth.
5 (d) Procedure.--Nominations shall be submitted to the
6 commission and shall be made in accordance with procedures
7 established by the commission. The commission shall transmit
8 nominations to the selection committee for review.
9 Section 7. Pennsylvania Public Service Award Fund.
10 (a) Dedicated fund.--There is hereby established in the
11 State Treasury the Pennsylvania Public Service Award Fund which
12 shall be under the authority of the commission.
13 (b) Purpose.--The commission may accept grants, gifts,
14 donations or bequests to fulfill any purposes of this act and
15 shall deposit such moneys into the fund.
16 Section 8. Effective date.
17 This act shall take effect January 1, 1999.
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