PRINTER'S NO. 1988
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1759
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, BURGOS, GUENST, SANCHEZ, N. NELSON, HILL-
EVANS, LEE, SCHLOSSBERG, SAPPEY, HOHENSTEIN, WEBSTER,
ZIMMERMAN, MALAGARI, SIMS, CIRESI AND STRUZZI, JULY 30, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JULY 30, 2021
AN ACT
Establishing the Pennsylvania Pollinator Habitat Program in the
Department of Transportation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
Pollinator Habitat Program Act.
Section 2. 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:
"Department." The Department of Transportation of the
Commonwealth.
"Plant hardiness zone." A zone identified as existing in
this Commonwealth according to the Plant Hardiness Zone Map
published by the United States Department of Agriculture.
"Pollinator habitat." An area of permanent vegetation
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located in an agricultural landscape that is suited for
pollinating insects.
"Program." The Pennsylvania Pollinator Habitat Program
established under section 4.
"State-designated highway." A highway or bridge on the
system of highways and bridges over which the department has
assumed or has been given jurisdiction by law.
Section 3. Findings.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Native plants have many ecological benefits. They
provide habitats, stabilize the soil, increase storm water
infiltration, replenish the water table and sequester carbon.
(2) Native forbs and grasses have more well-developed,
deep root systems that stabilize soil and prevent erosion and
they do not require fertilizers, water and other care during
establishment that non-native plants require.
(3) Many native plants are able to tolerate the poor,
compacted soils found along roadsides.
Section 4. Pennsylvania Pollinator Habitat Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Pollinator Habitat
Program is established in the department. The department, in
consultation with the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources and the Department of Agriculture, shall:
(1) Administer the program to create pollinator habitats
that are located along State-designated highways and are
filled with grasses and perennial wildflowers native to
Pennsylvania in order to facilitate the migration of
pollinators.
(2) Develop outreach efforts and provide information to
the general public on the benefits of pollinators.
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(3) Identify, for each plant hardiness zone and
environmental conditions found on a State-designated highway,
a list of the particular native pollinator species that
thrive in the plant hardiness zone in which the pollinator
species is being planted.
(b) Mowing schedules.--The department's mowing schedules
shall be modified to be compatible with pollinator cycles.
Section 5. Rules and regulations.
The department may promulgate rules and regulations to
administer and enforce this act.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 120 days.
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