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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1856, 1942               PRINTER'S NO. 1955

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 1224 Session of 2006


        INTRODUCED BY WENGER, WAUGH, WONDERLING, PUNT AND COSTA,
           JUNE 19, 2006

        AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, JUNE 27, 2006

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of May 15, 1945 (P.L.547, No.217), entitled, as
     2     amended, "An act relating to the conservation of soil, water
     3     and related natural resources and land use practices
     4     contributing to soil wastage and soil erosion; providing for
     5     the organization of the various counties into conservation
     6     districts; the appointment of their officers and employes;
     7     and prescribing their powers and duties; creating the State
     8     Conservation Commission in the Department of Environmental
     9     Resources and fixing its powers and duties relative to the
    10     administration of this act; providing financial and legal
    11     assistance to such conservation districts and the commission;
    12     and authorizing county governing bodies to make
    13     appropriations thereto; providing for disposition and
    14     operation of existing districts; and repealing existing
    15     laws," further providing for Commonwealth appropriations.

    16     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    17  hereby enacts as follows:
    18     Section 1.  Section 14 of the act of May 15, 1945 (P.L.547,
    19  No.217), known as the Conservation District Law, reenacted and
    20  amended December 19, 1984 (P.L.1125, No.221), is amended to
    21  read:
    22     Section 14.  [Commonwealth Appropriations.--] Funding.--(a)
    23  The General Assembly of the Commonwealth shall appropriate from
    24  time to time as may be necessary, moneys out of the General Fund

     1  [to the State Conservation Commission for its use in
     2  administering] to administer the provisions of this act.
     3     (b)  There is created a special fund in the State Treasury to
     4  be known as the Conservation District Fund. State funds
     5  appropriated for assistance to local conservation districts
     6  shall be deposited in the fund. All money in the fund and the
     7  interest it accrues are appropriated to the commission for
     8  allocation to the conservation districts for activities
     9  necessary to meet the requirements of this act.
    10     (c)  The fund may be supplemented by moneys received from the
    11  following sources:
    12     (1)  State funds appropriated to conservation districts or
    13  the commission.
    14     (2)  Federal funds appropriated to conservation districts,
    15  the commission or other agencies of the Commonwealth.
    16     (3)  Programs delegated to or contracted to conservation
    17  districts by any agency of the Commonwealth.
    18     (4)  Proceeds from the sale of any bonds made available to
    19  the commission.
    20     (5)  Gifts and other contributions from public and private
    21  sources.
    22     (6)  Any fees collected by the commission.
    23     (d)  The commission shall have the duty and authority to do
    24  all of the following:
    25     (1)  Adopt criteria and procedures for the allocation of
    26  moneys in the fund.
    27     (2)  Create accounts within the fund for the purposes of
    28  providing funding for the programs authorized by this act.
    29     (3)  Provide for provisions to make advance payments and
    30  reimbursements to conservation districts for approved purposes.
    20060S1224B1955                  - 2 -     

     1     (4)  Make payments to conservation districts or any agency
     2  designated by the commission in accordance with the requirements
     3  of the agency for FROM which the funds originated.                <--
     4     (e)  Funds allocated to conservation districts shall be used
     5  for costs associated with implementing programs delegated or
     6  contracted by the Commonwealth, environmental education,
     7  programs to protect the environment approved by the commission
     8  or for activities necessary to meet the requirements of this
     9  act.
    10     (f)  For the purposes of this section, a conservation
    11  district shall be exempt from State contracting guidelines and
    12  eligible for advance funding.
    13     (g)  The fund shall not be subject to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 37
    14  Subch. C (relating to judicial computer system).
    15     (h)  The money in the fund shall only be used for the
    16  purposes authorized by this act and shall not be transferred or
    17  diverted to any other purpose.
    18     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.








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