PRINTER'S NO. 238
No. 230 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY ROBBINS, PUNT, LAVALLE, THOMPSON, RAFFERTY, MUSTO,
WOZNIAK, MOWERY, LEMMOND, COSTA, EARLL AND RHOADES,
FEBRUARY 7, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FEBRUARY 7, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), entitled "An
2 act to enhance community and economic development in this
3 Commonwealth by restructuring certain administrative
4 functions and entities; changing the name of the Department
5 of Commerce to the Department of Community and Economic
6 Development; transferring functions of the Department of
7 Community Affairs into the Department of Community and
8 Economic Development and other agencies; providing for a
9 Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and Development in the
10 Department of Community and Economic Development;
11 establishing the Center for Local Government Services and the
12 Local Government Advisory Committee; establishing the Small
13 Business Advocacy Council; conferring powers and duties on
14 the Legislative Reference Bureau; and making repeals,"
15 providing for a Deputy Secretary for Local Government
16 Services in the Department of Community and Economic
17 Development.
18 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
19 hereby enacts as follows:
20 Section 1. Section 301(b) and (c) of the act of June 27,
21 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), known as the Community and Economic
22 Development Enhancement Act, are amended to read:
23 Section 301. To Department of Community and Economic
24 Development.
1 * * *
2 (b) Functions to be consolidated.--The functions transferred
3 to the department shall be consolidated within the department
4 into a bureau, division, section or other organizational entity
5 devoted to community and economic development and into the
6 Center for Local Government Services under subsection (c). The
7 Governor shall appoint a Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs
8 and Development and a Deputy Secretary for Local Government
9 Services. The [deputy secretary] Deputy Secretary for Community
10 Affairs and Development shall have the powers and perform the
11 functions and duties transferred to the department in subsection
12 (a), except for those functions and duties of the Center for
13 Local Government Services, as well as other such functions and
14 duties authorized by the Governor. The Deputy Secretary for
15 Local Government Services shall be responsible for the
16 administration of the Center for Local Government Services as
17 well as such other functions and duties authorized by the
18 Governor, including the necessary staff complement and funding
19 sources to adequately carry out the responsibilities of
20 administering the Governor's Executive Order 99-1 as it relates
21 to land use issues. Such staffing shall include those personnel
22 presently assigned to land use functions in the department's
23 regional offices.
24 (c) Center for Local Government Services established.--A
25 Center for Local Government Services shall be established and
26 maintained in the department to serve as the link between the
27 Commonwealth and local governments. The center shall be a
28 provider of services to local governments, shall serve as the
29 point of contact for local governments on issues and problems of
30 local concern, shall be responsible for coordinating State
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1 program resources in response to local issues and problems and
2 shall establish a systematic process for addressing local issues
3 and problems involving the resources of more than a single
4 agency. In carrying out its responsibilities, the center shall
5 use and have access to the information, services, functions and
6 other resources transferred under subsection (a). The center
7 shall, when authorized by the Governor, use and have access to
8 any other information, services, functions and other resources
9 in the possession of executive agencies under the Governor's
10 jurisdiction deemed necessary to the fulfillment of its
11 responsibilities. The center shall provide to local governments,
12 at no cost, information on purchase contracts for materials,
13 supplies and equipment entered into by the Department of General
14 Services in which local governments may participate pursuant to
15 the provisions of section 2403(h) of The Administrative Code of
16 1929. The Deputy Secretary for [Community Affairs and
17 Development shall be responsible for the administration of the
18 center and] Local Government Services shall report in writing to
19 the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on the activities of the
20 center. The center shall have permanent staff both in its
21 headquarters as well as in the regional offices of the Governor
22 and shall additionally make a toll-free telephone number
23 available to local governments to assist the center in
24 accommodating requests for assistance. Funding for the center
25 shall be provided by the department.
26 * * *
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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