PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 252

PRINTER'S NO.  1323

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

276

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, FONTANA, ALLOWAY, ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, BROWNE, GORDNER, WAUGH AND FERLO, JANUARY 26, 2011

  

  

SENATOR EARLL, COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS AMENDED, JUNE 13, 2011   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of June 22, 2000 (P.L.318, No.32), entitled "An

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act encouraging State agencies to locate facilities in a

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downtown area; and providing for report to General Assembly,"

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further providing for powers and duties of the Department of

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General Services.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 4(a) of the act of June 22, 2000

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(P.L.318, No.32), known as the Downtown Location Law, is amended

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and the section is amended by adding subsections a subsection to

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read:

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Section 4.  Powers and duties.

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(a)  Guidelines.--The department shall establish guidelines

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to encourage State agencies to locate all new office facilities

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in downtown areas. The guidelines shall include consideration of

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the following factors:

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(1)  The requirements of the agency.

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(2)  Servicing clientele needs.

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(3)  Local economic considerations.

 


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(4)  The availability of suitable space in a downtown

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area.

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(5)  Competitiveness in the marketplace.

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(6)  Cost to the Commonwealth.

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(7)  Safety to persons using the office facility.

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(8)  The availability of public transportation.

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(9)  Compatibility with the economic revitalization plan

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for the downtown area.

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(10)  Local zoning ordinances.

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(a.1)  Denial of requests.--The department shall deny a

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request by a State agency to locate outside a downtown area

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unless a majority of the factors specified in subsection (a) are

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found to be unsatisfactory to the agencies' needs or facility

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requirements cannot be met by locating in a downtown area.

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(a.2) (a.1)  Coordination.--The department shall also

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coordinate projects with existing public and private sector

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organizations committed to community, downtown revitalization

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and historic preservation. The coordination shall include

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seeking a recommendation from the identified downtown

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revitalization or historic preservation organization as to

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whether, in its opinion, the needs of the agency could be met

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based on the factors specified in subsection (a).

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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