1Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2Statutes, in unconventional gas well fee, further providing
3for distribution of fee.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Section 2314(c.1) of Title 58 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes, is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

8§ 2314. Distribution of fee.

9* * *

10(c.1) Additional distributions.--From fees collected under
11this chapter and deposited in the fund for 2011 and each year
12thereafter:

13* * *

14(7) Three million dollars to the Department of Health to
15be used:

16(i) To conduct health services research to determine
17if health services are adequate in areas of the

1Commonwealth where unconventional gas well drilling
2occurs. This subparagraph includes the collection and
3reporting of health data in areas where unconventional
4gas wells are drilled and provide training in
5occupational and environmental medicine to health care
6providers.

7(ii) To conduct research on the effects of air
8quality on health and disease in areas where
9unconventional gas wells are drilled. The research shall
10examine the impacts that short-term, intermediate and
11long-term exposure to air contaminant emissions from
12natural gas production and processing operations in
13unconventional shale formations has on respiratory-
14related hospital admissions, emergency room visits and
15premature deaths. In order to translate population
16studies to personalized medicine under this subparagraph,
17a portion of the funds under this subparagraph shall be
18allocated to support research to identify biomarkers of
19exposure to determine susceptibility of disease and to
20understand the direct effects of air pollutants generated
21by oil and gas operations.

22In conducting research under this paragraph, the Department
23of Health shall partner or contract with other entities with
24established environmental health sciences research programs
25within this Commonwealth.

26* * *

27Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.