PRINTER'S NO. 2417
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1794
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY YOUNGBLOOD, CRUZ, HILL-EVANS, ULLMAN, SCHLOSSBERG,
CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, McCLINTON, ZABEL, MADDEN AND HOWARD,
SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
AN ACT
Providing for the Commonwealth Advisory Board on Geographic
Names; and imposing duties on the Commonwealth Advisory Board
on Geographic Names.
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 Commonwealth
Advisory Board on Geographic Names Act.
Section 2. Legislative intent.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Certain geographic location names in this
Commonwealth are offensive and insulting to this
Commonwealth's residents, history and heritage.
(2) These geographic location names should be replaced
by names that better reflect this Commonwealth's residents,
history and heritage without resorting to harmful or
offensive stereotypes, names, words or phrases.
(3) The United States Board on Geographic Names, the
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Federal agency which determines official geographic location
name changes, is a reactive body and does not initiate name
proposals, only accepting proposals from Federal, State,
local and tribal agencies, as well as from local
organizations and private citizens.
(4) The process by which the Federal Government follows
to make official changes to geographic location names is
burdensome, complicated and lengthy.
(5) The establishment of the Commonwealth Advisory Board
on Geographic Names to address certain geographic location
names in this Commonwealth will be beneficial in identifying
offensive and insulting geographic location names and
assisting the Commonwealth and local governments, as well as
local organizations and private citizens, in the burdensome
process of proposing changes to geographic location names in
this Commonwealth.
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
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board." The Commonwealth Advisory Board on Geographic
Names.
"Department." The Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources of the Commonwealth.
Section 4. Commonwealth Advisory Board on Geographic Names.
(a) Establishment.--The Commonwealth Advisory Board on
Geographic Names is established within the department.
(b) Powers and duties.--The board shall have the following
powers and duties:
(1) Facilitate discussion among its membership to
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consider issues related to geographic location names.
(2) Make recommendations to the appropriate Federal,
State and local agencies.
(3) Assist the Commonwealth and local governments,
including local organizations and private citizens, in the
process of proposing changes to geographic location names.
(c) Members.--The board shall be composed of the following
members:
(1) The secretary of the department or the secretary's
designee.
(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or the
secretary's designee.
(3) The Secretary of Transportation or the secretary's
designee.
(4) One member of the Senate appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate.
(5) One member of the Senate appointed by the Majority
Leader of the Senate.
(6) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate.
(7) One member of the House of Representatives appointed
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(8) One member of the House of Representatives appointed
by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(9) One member of the House of Representatives appointed
by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(10) A representative from the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania, appointed by the Governor.
(11) A representative from the Pennsylvania State
Archives, appointed by the Governor.
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(d) Chairs.--The board shall elect a chair and vice chair
from among its membership.
(e) Term.--Except members under subsection (c)(1), (2), (3),
all members of the board shall serve a term of three years and
may serve on the board until a successor is appointed.
(f) Compensation.--Members of the board shall receive no
compensation for service on the board but shall be reimbursed
for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under
this act.
(g) Staff support.--The department shall provide staff
support to the board.
Section 5. Duties of board.
The board shall do all of the following:
(1) Meet at least once a year to consider issues related
to geographic location names and make recommendations to the
appropriate Federal, State and local agencies for proposed
geographic location name changes.
(2) Develop a process to assist the Commonwealth and
local governments, including local organizations and private
citizens of this Commonwealth, in the process of
proposing changes to a geographic location name.
(3) Develop educational materials and outreach
opportunities for the department to make available regarding
the purpose and mission of the board.
(4) Issue an annual report detailing recommendations or
actions made by the board. The annual report shall be
submitted to the chair and minority chair of the State
Government Committee of the Senate and the chair and minority
chair of the State Government Committee of the House of
Representatives by December 1, 2019, and by December 1 of
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each year thereafter.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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