PRINTER'S NO. 286
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
159
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ, HUGHES, COSTA, FONTANA, LEACH AND
WILLIAMS, JANUARY 30, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
JANUARY 30, 2015
AN ACT
Establishing the Office of New Americans and fixing its powers
and duties; and establishing the Advisory Committee to Office
of New Americans and providing for its powers, duties and
membership.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Section 102. Legislative policy and declarations.
Section 103. Definitions.
Chapter 3. Office of New Americans
Section 301. Establishment.
Section 302. Powers and duties of office.
Chapter 5. Advisory Committee to Office of New Americans
Section 501. Establishment.
Section 502. Membership.
Section 503. Powers and duties of advisory committee.
Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 701. Effective date.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Office of New
Americans Act.
Section 102. Legislative policy and declarations.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) According to the Census Bureau, Pennsylvania ranked
42 amongst the 50 states in population growth from April 1,
2010, to July 1, 2013, increasing only .56%.
(2) In 2012, Pennsylvania's 769,264 foreign-born
individuals comprised 6% of this Commonwealth's population,
an increase of 1.9% since 2000.
(3) Throughout this Commonwealth's history, immigrants
have played a critical role in this Commonwealth's economic,
cultural, and political growth and success.
(4) Policies that promote the attraction, retention and
integration of immigrants will help enhance this
Commonwealth's economy and diversity, thereby improving the
lives of all citizens and helping to remove barriers that may
undermine immigrants' full potential.
(5) Immigrants currently fill skilled positions
throughout this Commonwealth's economy and are a vital part
of this Commonwealth's economy and tax base.
(6) Thirty-six percent of immigrants in this
Commonwealth have a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or
graduate degree, compared to 26% of United-States-born
Pennsylvanians.
20150SB0159PN0286 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(7) Organizations such as the Welcoming Center for New
Pennsylvanians and Vibrant Pittsburgh are providing
leadership in this Commonwealth's immigrant integration
efforts through programs and services that connect newcomers
and longtime Pennsylvanians to economic opportunity.
(8) It is essential for this Commonwealth's future that
skilled, energetic and entrepreneurial immigrants are
attracted and retained. Their presence helps to bolster this
Commonwealth's economy and strengthen the social and cultural
fabric.
(9) States enforce and provide for many services,
licenses and educational and economic opportunities that make
it imperative to offer guidance to State government agencies
and to immigrants on how to navigate these resources.
(10) The creation of an Office of New Americans will
help to improve the lives of immigrants and Pennsylvanians
generally by recognizing these facts and promoting these
goals.
Section 103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advisory committee." The Advisory Committee to Office of
New Americans.
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Office." The Office of New Americans.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
CHAPTER 3
20150SB0159PN0286 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS
Section 301. Establishment.
The Office of New Americans is established within the
department.
Section 302. Powers and duties of office.
The office shall do all of the following:
(1) Respond to inquiries from Commonwealth agencies, the
media, immigrant-serving organizations and the public about
immigration issues in this Commonwealth.
(2) Serve as point of contact for Commonwealth licensing
boards and the Bureau of Professional and Occupational
Affairs.
(3) Serve as an information clearinghouse for
Commonwealth agencies on immigration-related policy issues
and coordinate among agencies as appropriate.
(4) Analyze economic and demographic trends and make
policy recommendations.
(5) Develop strategies to attract, retain and
incorporate immigrants into this Commonwealth.
(6) Ensure that the Commonwealth is gathering relevant
data to inform its policymaking on immigrant issues.
(7) Convene stakeholders in business development and
international trade promotion programs to increase their
capacity to draw on immigrant contributors.
(8) Disseminate information to new and prospective
immigrant residents of this Commonwealth who wish to invest
capital, launch businesses or apply their skills in this
Commonwealth.
(9) Convene municipal officials to boost peer learning
on immigration possibilities among cities of the third class
20150SB0159PN0286 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
struggling with population loss and economic decline.
(10) Convene college and university officials to foster
learning on strategies for immigrant and international
student retention.
(11) Provide matching grant funds for high-quality
immigration and economic development programs that can
demonstrate corporate or philanthropic investment.
(12) Evaluate success of activities and adjust courses
as appropriate.
CHAPTER 5
ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO
OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS
Section 501. Establishment.
The Advisory Committee to Office of New Americans is
established within the office and shall serve in an advisory
capacity to the office in matters regarding immigrants in this
Commonwealth. The advisory committee shall be staffed and
administered by the office.
Section 502. Membership.
(a) Public official members.--The advisory committee shall
consist of the following members, who shall serve by virtue of
their public position:
(1) The secretary or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Administration or a designee.
(3) The Secretary of Labor and Industry or a designee.
(4) The Secretary of Education or a designee.
(5) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(6) The Secretary of Health or a designee.
(7) The Secretary of Transportation or a designee.
(8) The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police or a
20150SB0159PN0286 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
designee.
(b) Nongovernmental members.--The advisory committee shall
consist of nongovernmental members to be appointed by the
Governor as follows:
(1) Two members from an organization that attracts,
retains and integrates immigrants into this Commonwealth's
society.
(2) One member from the Pennsylvania chapter of the
American Immigration Lawyers Association.
(3) One member from an institution of higher education
who has a primary focus on immigration issues.
(4) One member from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business
and Industry or a similar local advocate for economic
improvement.
(5) One member with expertise in accessing language
resources for those who use English as a second language.
(6) One member from the Pennsylvania banking sector.
(7) One member from a work force training agency.
(8) One member from the health care sector.
(9) One member from the health insurance sector.
(10) One member from a human services agency.
(11) One member from a refugee resettlement agency.
(c) Voting.--
(1) All members appointed shall hold voting privileges
on all matters brought up for consideration by the advisory
committee.
(2) A simple majority of those members with current
appointments of the advisory committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of any business. An action adopted
by the majority of the members present at any meeting in
20150SB0159PN0286 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
which there is a quorum shall be deemed to be an act of the
advisory committee.
(d) Terms.--
(1) The terms of the members under subsection (a) shall
be concurrent with their holding of the public office.
(2) Members appointed under subsection (b) shall serve
three-year terms as long as they represent the interest of
the membership class for which they were appointed, and shall
serve until their successors are appointed.
(e) Chairperson.--The secretary shall serve as chairperson
of the advisory committee.
(f) Expenses of members.--Members of the advisory committee
shall receive no compensation for their services. Members who
are not employees of State government shall be reimbursed at
established Commonwealth rates for expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties on the advisory committee.
Section 503. Powers and duties of advisory committee.
(a) General rule.--The advisory committee shall:
(1) Make recommendations to the Governor and the
secretary on policies, procedures, regulations and
legislation that helps to attract, retain and integrate
immigrants into this Commonwealth's society.
(2) Serve as the Governor's liaison to new Americans on
policies, procedures, regulations and legislation that affect
immigrants, in order to ensure that State government is
accessible, accountable and responsive to their needs.
(3) Serve as a resource to all departments, commissions
and agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction to ensure that
these government entities are cognizant of the needs of
immigrants and that their respective services and programs
20150SB0159PN0286 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
are accessible to immigrants.
(4) Work with the office to monitor the practices of
Commonwealth agencies relating to the attraction, retention
and integration of immigrants in order to maximize the
efficiency and accessibility to State government.
(5) Perform such other duties as the Governor and
secretary may assign in planning for services and programs
for immigrants.
(b) Studies and reports.--The advisory committee may conduct
studies and issue reports upon request and as it deems necessary
on issues affecting immigrants in this Commonwealth.
(c) Public hearings.--The advisory committee shall conduct
at least one public hearing each year to receive testimony and
public comments on how State government can improve the
attraction, retention and integration of immigrants in this
Commonwealth.
(d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the advisory committee from establishing ad
hoc work groups or local committees to assist in research and
other duties necessary to carry out the mission of the office.
CHAPTER 7
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 701. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20150SB0159PN0286 - 8 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24