PRINTER'S NO. 673
No. 607 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WATERS, BISHOP, BLACKWELL, DALEY, KIRKLAND, MYERS, PALLONE, WALKO AND SIPTROTH, MARCH 6, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 6, 2007
AN ACT 1 Providing for oversight and review of capital projects; 2 establishing the Capital Projects Oversight Board and 3 providing for its powers and duties. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Short title. 7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Capital 8 Projects Oversight Act. 9 Section 2. Definitions. 10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 12 context clearly indicates otherwise: 13 "Board." The Capital Projects Oversight Board established in 14 section 3. 15 Section 3. Capital Projects Oversight Board. 16 The Capital Projects Oversight Board is established in order 17 to provide review and oversight of capital projects. The board 18 shall also assist in providing information relating to ways each
1 specific project benefits the community at large. 2 Section 4. Membership. 3 The board shall consist of members who reflect the racial and 4 ethnic diversity of this Commonwealth. The Governor shall 5 designate one of the appointed members as chairperson of the 6 board. The following shall serve as members on the board: 7 (1) One member appointed by the President pro tempore of 8 the Senate. 9 (2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 10 Senate. 11 (3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 12 Representatives. 13 (4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 14 House of Representatives. 15 (5) Five members from across this Commonwealth appointed 16 by the Governor. 17 Section 5. Term of office. 18 The terms of office for appointed board members shall be two 19 years and until their successors have been appointed, but no 20 member shall serve more than six months beyond the expiration of 21 the member's term unless reappointed. In no event shall a member 22 serve more than two terms. Terms of office of members shall 23 expire on the third Tuesday of January of each odd-numbered 24 year. In the case of a vacancy in a position filled by 25 appointment of the Governor, the Governor shall make an 26 appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. In the case 27 of a vacancy in a position filled by appointment of a 28 legislative leader, that legislative leader shall make an 29 appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. 30 Section 6. Quorum and meetings. 20070H0607B0673 - 2 -
1 The board shall meet at least twice per year, as well as at 2 the call of the Governor. A majority of the members of the board 3 shall constitute a quorum. 4 Section 7. Compensation and expenses. 5 (a) Compensation.--The members of the board shall serve 6 without compensation. However, members other than the Governor 7 shall be entitled to receive traveling and other reasonable 8 expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties. 9 (b) Expenses.--The expenses of the board provided for in 10 this section shall be borne by the Executive Office of the 11 Governor. 12 Section 8. Publication of projects on Internet. 13 The board, within 120 days of the final appointment to the 14 initial board, shall electronically publish on the Internet a 15 list of the projects for which the board has oversight as well 16 as the times and dates of all board meetings. 17 Section 9. Annual report. 18 The board shall, no later than July 1 of each year, prepare a 19 comprehensive annual report detailing its review of each capital 20 project. 21 Section 10. Applicability. 22 This act shall only apply to capital projects involving 23 expenditures over $5,000,000. 24 Section 11. Effective date. 25 This act shall take effect in 120 days. A22L71JS/20070H0607B0673 - 3 -