PRINTER'S NO. 137
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
6
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, TEPLITZ, FARNESE, YAW, YUDICHAK,
BROWNE, MENSCH, BREWSTER, SCHWANK, BOSCOLA AND RAFFERTY,
JANUARY 15, 2015
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JANUARY 15, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to review
the Commonwealth's program of providing funding for drinking
water, wastewater and storm water projects authorized under
the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act.
WHEREAS, It is important for the Commonwealth to have in
place proper water supply, sewage disposal and storm water
systems throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, A program to fund drinking water, wastewater and
storm water projects will ensure public health and safety, a
quality environment and economic development; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognized that many
Pennsylvania communities have antiquated or inadequate water,
sewer and storm water systems posing a health risk and
consequently enacted the act of March 1, 1988 (P.L.82, No.16),
known as the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority
Act, which established the Pennsylvania Infrastructure
Investment Authority (PENNVEST); and
WHEREAS, PENNVEST, an independent State agency, provides low-
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cost financial assistance for infrastructure improvements to
community drinking water, wastewater and storm water systems
throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians have embraced the need for funding
dedicated to the improvement of drinking water, wastewater and
storm water systems by approval of several referenda; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly has an obligation to the
residents of this Commonwealth to ensure that this investment is
allocated wisely and achieves the results envisioned for
PENNVEST; and
WHEREAS, A review and evaluation of the implementation of
PENNVEST has not been undertaken in over a decade, and the
Senate has an interest in ensuring that the program is
administered in accordance with the goals and intent of
PENNVEST's enabling act; and
WHEREAS, A review could lead to recommendations for improving
PENNVEST so that more Pennsylvania communities and residents may
benefit from this program; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review and
evaluation of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment
Authority Act and prepare a report of its findings which shall,
at a minimum:
(1) determine all sources of funding for PENNVEST and
itemize the amounts of Federal, State and other funding;
(2) identify the overall amount of bond funding
authorized, the amount issued and a schedule of debt service
on the bond issuance;
(3) identify the total amount of funds allocated and a
compilation of how the allocated funds were spent;
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(4) determine whether funding is being awarded in
accordance with the criteria used to prioritize projects;
(5) provide a review of the projects approved by each
county, including the amount of funding and type of projects;
(6) identify amounts of loans and grants awarded on a
per county basis and a per Commonwealth resident basis; and
(7) determine why any disproportionate awards based on
population exist and why some areas of this Commonwealth are
underserved; and
(8) determine the feasibility of combining PENNVEST with
other programs to obtain greater efficiencies and to serve
more areas of this Commonwealth; and
(9) determine the overall effectiveness of PENNVEST's
enabling act in achieving the goals of protecting public
health and safety and promoting economic development of this
Commonwealth;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
report its findings and recommendations to the Senate within six
months of the adoption of this resolution.
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