PRINTER'S NO. 3941
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2592
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, KOSIEROWSKI, GALLOWAY, DRISCOLL, ROZZI,
SANCHEZ, YOUNGBLOOD, SAPPEY, READSHAW, MERSKI, DELLOSO,
GAINEY, PASHINSKI, MALAGARI, SCHWEYER AND TOMLINSON,
JUNE 15, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JUNE 15, 2020
AN ACT
Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness
Account, further providing for eligible disaster funding and
for Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 11104 and 11107(a) of Title 3 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, added July 1, 2019 (P.L.251,
No.35), are amended to read:
§ 11104. Eligible disaster funding.
Purposes for which money from the account may be used by the
department shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) To mitigate, contain, control, eradicate, prevent or
limit the spread of any of the following if the secretary
determines any of the following poses an immediate danger to
public or animal health, food safety or economic well-being
in this Commonwealth:
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(i) Transmissible disease.
(ii) Hazardous substance contamination.
(iii) Plant pests.
(iv) Invasive species.
(v) Plant diseases.
(vi) Noxious weeds.
(vii) Controlled plants.
(viii) Foodborne illness.
(2) To assist in providing transportation of livestock
feed from a commercial feed establishment in the event of a
disaster declaration issued by the Governor that includes the
department.
(2.1) To make grants to livestock feed sellers and
livestock producers for economic loss as a result of the
proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on
March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020),
and any renewal of the state of disaster emergency, which
grants shall be paid from the restricted account established
under section 11107(a)(2)(relating to Agriculture Rapid
Response Disaster Readiness Account). No grant issued under
this paragraph may exceed $10,000 in a 12-month period.
(3) To make grants for and acquire data regarding any
item under paragraph (1). No more than $100,000 may be used
for this purpose in a year.
(4) To provide additional financial assistance as may be
requested in a declaration of disaster issued by the Governor
that includes the department.
(5) To provide up to $250,000 annually to animal
response teams recognized and approved by the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency for planning, developing and
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maintaining animal response and rescue capabilities
consistent with standards and guidelines established by the
agency in conjunction with the department.
§ 11107. Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) The Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness
Account is established as a special nonlapsing account in the
State Treasury. All money allocated to or supplements to the
account and the interest collected on money and supplements
shall be paid into the account. All money placed into the
account and the interest the account accrues are appropriated
to the department on a continuing basis for activities
necessary to meet the requirements of this chapter.
(2) A restricted account is established in the account
to be used for grants under section 11104(2.1) (relating to
eligible disaster funding). The account shall consist of
money appropriated or transferred to the account, including
any portion of money received by the Commonwealth under the
"CARES Act," The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136).
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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