Regular Session 2015-2016 House Bill 1605 P.N. 2320

PRINTER'S NO. 2320

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1605

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY JAMES, BAKER, BARRAR, BIZZARRO, CALTAGIRONE,

CARROLL, CAUSER, CORBIN, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLYNN, FREEMAN,

HARHART, A. HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HELM, HENNESSEY, KAUFFMAN,

KAVULICH, MACKENZIE, MAHER, McNEILL, MENTZER, MILLARD, MURT,

PETRI, QUINN, REESE, REGAN, ROEBUCK, SAYLOR, SCHWEYER,

TOEPEL, TOPPER, WARD AND WATSON, OCTOBER 7, 2015

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 7, 2015

AN ACT

Establishing the Heritage Area Program to identify, protect,

enhance and promote the historic, recreational, natural,

cultural and scenic resources of this Commonwealth and to

stimulate community revitalization and economic development

through regional heritage conservation, recreation, tourism

and partnerships; and repealing provisions in The Fiscal Code

relating to heritage areas.

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 Heritage Area

Program Act.

Section 2. Declaration of policy.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) The act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as

the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, created the

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and

empowered the department to administer State heritage

conservation programs, such as the Pennsylvania Heritage

Parks Program.

(2) The Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program consists of

heritage areas, which are multicounty regions located in this

Commonwealth and designated by gubernatorial action that

promotes an appreciation of the history and heritage of the

regions.

(3) Since 1989, heritage areas assist communities in

developing, restoring, preserving and conserving nationally,

State and locally significant historic, cultural, natural and

recreational resources through capital and programmatic

investments.

(4) Heritage areas have successfully demonstrated the

ability to create public, private and nonprofit investment

partnerships leveraging significant investments for every

dollar of Commonwealth funds.

(5) Heritage areas are a key catalyst in regions of this

Commonwealth for economic growth and community development

strategies and investments resulting in tourism promotion,

small business development and the creation of jobs.

(6) The Commonwealth's program has long been recognized,

studied and replicated by other states and the National Park

Service as a model for successful heritage and community

conservation and development.

(7) Due to the success of the program, a targeted effort

should be made to promote this Commonwealth's heritage areas

by providing dedicated funding.

Section 3. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Department." The Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources of the Commonwealth.

"Heritage area." A Commonwealth-designated region, managed

by a nonprofit organization or governmental entity, which

conserves nationally and State significant landscapes and

develops, protects, interprets and promotes its historic,

cultural, natural and recreational resources to stimulate

economic and community development.

"Program." The Heritage Area Program.

"Secretary." The Secretary of the Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources of the Commonwealth.

Section 4. Heritage Area Program.

(a) Establishment.--The Heritage Area Program is established

within the department to identify, protect, develop, enhance and

promote the historic, recreational, natural, cultural and scenic

resources of this Commonwealth and to stimulate community

revitalization and economic development through regional

heritage conservation, recreation, tourism and partnerships.

(b) Administration.--

(1) The department shall adopt program guidelines and

policies for the implementation and administration of the

program.

(2) The department shall consult with the heritage areas

on an annual basis to discuss program goals, guidelines and

policies.

allocate funds appropriated to the department to the program for

the following purposes:

(1) Management, administration, operation and marketing

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of heritage areas.

(2) Planning, implementation, technical assistance and

educational projects and programs related to heritage areas.

(3) Development, construction, rehabilitation, repair,

acquisition, preservation and enhancement of lands, buildings

and other structures related to heritage areas.

(4) Protection, documentation, interpretation and

promotion of the cultural, natural, scenic, recreational and

historic resources of heritage areas.

(5) Establishment of partnerships and coalitions of

governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations

to assist heritage areas with the implementation of

management action plans.

(6) Any other activities deemed appropriate by the

department.

(d) Use.--A heritage area may use the funding allocated by

the department for the program to provide a grant to another

entity and organization, including a county, municipality,

authority, nonprofit organization, other authorized

organization, private sector firm and business, if the purpose

of the grant meets the requirements of subsection (c).

(e) Eligibility.--In addition to any other funding provided

to a heritage area, a heritage area shall be eligible to apply

for a grant and loan program administered by the department or

other Federal or State agency or entity.

(f) Amount.--

(1) The department shall distribute funds to the program

based on established program goals, guidelines and policies.

(2) The department shall allocate all funds appropriated

annually for the program and each State-designated heritage

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area shall receive a minimum amount established by the

program goals, guidelines and policies.

(g) Administrative use.--The department may use no more than

5% of the funding appropriated annually for the program for

administrative expenses, including the development of a

strategic plan or other appropriate initiative related to the

administration of the program.

Section 5. Repeal and continuation.

(a) Repeal.--Repeals are as follows:

(1) The General Assembly declares that the repeal under

paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate this act.

(2) Article XVI-J of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343,

No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, is repealed.

(b) Continuation.--This act is a continuation of Article

XVI-J of The Fiscal Code. Except as otherwise provided in this

act, all activities initiated under Article XVI-J of The Fiscal

Code shall continue and remain in full force and effect and may

be completed under this act. Orders, regulations, rules and

decisions which were made under Article XVI-J of The Fiscal Code

and which are in effect on the effective date of subsection (a)

(2) shall remain in full force and effect until revoked, vacated

or modified under this act. Contracts, obligations and

collective bargaining agreements entered into under Article XVI-

J of The Fiscal Code are not affected nor impaired by the repeal

of Article XVI-J of The Fiscal Code.

Section 6. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.

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