A00782
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
374
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY EVERETT, SOLOMON, PASHINSKI, STURLA, LONGIETTI,
MILLARD, INNAMORATO, SAYLOR AND DeLUCA, FEBRUARY 5, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 5, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Titles 27 (Environmental Resources) and 75 (Vehicles)
of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for
Keystone Tree Fund Restricted Account; and, in registration
of vehicles, providing for contributions to the Keystone Tree
Fund Restricted Account.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 27 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 66
KEYSTONE TREE FUND RESTRICTED ACCOUNT
Sec.
6601. Definitions.
6602. Establishment.
6603. Sources of revenue.
6604. Authorized purposes.
6605. Contributions.
6606. Statement of policy.
6607. Report.
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§ 6601. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources of the Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Keystone Tree Fund "Restricted account." The
Keystone Tree Restricted Account established under section 6602
(relating to establishment).
§ 6602. Establishment.
The Keystone Tree Fund is established in the State Treasury.
The money in the fund Restricted Account is established as a
restricted account within the General Fund. The money in the
restricted account is appropriated on a continuing basis to the
department for the purposes specified in section 6604 (relating
to authorized purposes).
§ 6603. Sources of revenue.
The fund restricted account shall include the following:
(1) Proceeds paid by the Department of Transportation
under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1322 (relating to contributions to
Keystone Tree Fund Restricted Account ).
(2) Grants, gifts, donations and other payments from a
person or governmental entity to the fund restricted account .
(3) Money appropriated to the fund restricted account .
§ 6604. Authorized purposes.
The department may expend money from the fund (a) Purposes
and allocations.--Except as provided under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1322(e)
(relating to contributions to Keystone Tree Restricted Account),
the department may expend money from the restricted account for
the purposes and in the allocations as follows:
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(1) A tree vitalize program, 40%.
(2) A riparian forest buffer grant program, 60%.
(b) Prohibitions.--No amount of money allocated under
subsection (a) may be used for administrative costs of the
department.
§ 6605. Contributions.
The department may solicit and accept gifts, donations,
legacies and other money for deposit into the fund restricted
account from a person or a government entity on behalf of the
Commonwealth.
§ 6606. Statement of policy.
The department shall adopt a statement of policy for the
maintenance and use the fund restricted account within 60 days
of the effective date of this section. The statement of policy
shall be published as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin but
shall not be subject to review under section 205 of the act of
July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth
Documents Law, sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October
15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys
Act, or the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the
Regulatory Review Act.
§ 6607. Report.
By July 31, 2019, and each year thereafter, the department
shall submit to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate and
the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee of the House of Representatives a
report detailing the fund restricted account revenues and
expenditures in the prior fiscal year and describing the
activities, programs and projects which received money from the
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fund restricted account .
Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1322 . Contributions to Keystone Tree Fund Restricted Account .
(a) General rule.--Within one year of the effective date of
this section the department shall provide for all of the
following:
(1) Ability of a person renewing a driver's license or
identification card electronically through the department's
publicly accessible Internet website to make a contribution
of $3 to the Keystone Tree Fund Restricted Account
established by 27 Pa.C.S. § 6602 (relating to establishment).
(2) Ability of a person renewing a vehicle registration
electronically through the department's publicly accessible
Internet website to make a contribution of $3 to the Keystone
Tree Fund Restricted Account .
(b) Implementation.--
(1) A contribution under subsection (a) shall be added,
as appropriate, to the regular fee for:
(i) A renewal of a driver's license or
identification card.
(ii) A renewal of a vehicle registration.
(2) One contribution under subsection (a) may be made
for:
(i) Each renewal of a driver's license or
identification card.
(ii) Each renewal of a vehicle registration.
(c) Use.--Contributions under subsection (a) shall be used
exclusively for purposes specified in 27 Pa.C.S. § 6604
(relating to authorized purposes).
(d) Deposits.--
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(1) The department shall determine on a monthly basis
the total amount collected under this section and report the
amount to the Department of Revenue and the State Treasurer.
(2) The State Treasurer shall transfer the amount from
the Motor License Fund to the Keystone Tree Fund. (d)
Deposits.--The department shall determine on a monthly basis
the total amount collected under this section and direct the
State Treasurer to transfer the amount from the Motor License
Fund to the Keystone Tree Restricted Account by the 15th of
the following month.
(e) Reimbursement.--The Keystone Tree Fund Restricted
Account shall reimburse the Motor License Fund for the actual
costs incurred by the department in the administration of this
section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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