Pennsylvania Act 1996-106 — PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER ACT

Act text

PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER ACT
                 Act of Jul. 11, 1996, P.L. 630, No. 106              Cl. 12
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for a Pennsylvania Business Resource Center within the
        Department of Commerce; and creating the Pennsylvania
        Business Resource Center Advisory Board.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Commerce was renamed the
            Department of Community and Economic Development by Act
            58 of 1996.

        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 Pennsylvania
     Business Resource Center Act.
     Section 2.  Intent and purpose.
        It is the intent of this act and its purpose shall be:
            (1)  To create a partnership of State government, private
        industry, organized labor and higher education to enhance
        business development in this Commonwealth.
            (2)  To provide for the collection and coordination of
        all relevant information regarding the location, development
        and expansion of business and industry in this Commonwealth
        and to provide for the innovative display of this information
        to businesses and industries.
            (3)  To provide a centralized, multimedia facility for
        businesses to meet with representatives of the Commonwealth
        and the utility, transportation and other companies who would
        provide services to them should the businesses locate in this
        Commonwealth.
            (4)  To provide one-stop services to assist businesses in
        identifying and securing appropriate permits needed to
        establish and operate a business.
            (5)  To provide for the compilation of a comprehensive
        listing of all permits required by Commonwealth agencies and
        categorize the required permits into a comprehensive handbook
        that is readily available to persons establishing a small
        business.
            (6)  To provide for the facilitation of contacts for an
        applicant with the Commonwealth agency responsible for the
        review of the respective permit applications.
     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 Pennsylvania Business Resource Center Advisory
     Board.
        "Center."  The Pennsylvania Business Resource Center.
        "Department."  The Department of Commerce of the
     Commonwealth.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Commerce, referred to in
            this section, was renamed the Department of Community and
            Economic Development by Act 58 of 1996.
     Section 4.  The Pennsylvania Business Resource Center.
        (a)  Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Business Resource
     Center is established within the Department of Commerce.
        (b)  Coordination.--The department shall coordinate with
     other governmental entities, businesses, economic development
     organizations and academic institutions to develop a business
     resource center.
        (c)  Contribution.--The center is authorized to accept
     contributions, including money, tangible and intangible property
     and other items of value, from other governmental entities,
     businesses, economic development organizations and charitable
     and academic institutions for the purpose of building and
     operating a business resource center.
        (d)  Contract.--The department may contract, directly or
     through another entity, for the development and operation, in
     whole or in part, of the center.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Commerce, referred to in
            subsec. (a), was renamed the Department of Community and
            Economic Development by Act 58 of 1996.
     Section 5.  Pennsylvania Business Resource Center Advisory
                    Board.
        (a)  Establishment.--There is hereby established within the
     department an advisory board known as the Pennsylvania Business
     Resource Center Advisory Board.
        (b)  Membership.--The board shall consist of 16 members as
     follows:
            (1)  The Secretary of Commerce or his designee.
            (2)  One member appointed by the Majority Leader of the
        Senate.
            (3)  One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
        Senate.
            (4)  One member appointed by the Majority Leader of the
        House of Representatives.
            (5)  One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
        House of Representatives.
            (6)  Two members appointed by the Governor representing
        higher education.
            (7)  Two members appointed by the Governor representing
        business or industry.
            (8)  Two members appointed by the Governor representing
        economic development organizations.
            (9)  Two members appointed by the Governor representing
        organized labor.
            (10)  One member, appointed by the Governor, who shall be
        a president of a community college which has strong technical
        and occupational programs.
            (11)  Two at-large members appointed by the Governor.
        (c)  Chairperson.--The Secretary of Commerce or his designee
     shall serve as the chairperson. The board may elect additional
     officers as it deems necessary.
        (d)  Terms.--Members shall serve without compensation at the
     pleasure of the respective appointing authority.
        (e)  Expenses.--The members of the board shall receive no
     salary but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary
     expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

        Compiler's Note:  The Secretary of Commerce, referred to in
            this section, was renamed the Secretary of Community and
            Economic Development by Act 58 of 1996.
     Section 6.  Powers and duties of board.
        The board shall have the power and its duty shall be:
            (1)  To advise the Governor and General Assembly on ways
        to promote this Commonwealth as a location for the expansion
        of business and industry.
            (2)  To provide a state-of-the-art information and
        computer system to supply businesses with all relevant
        information regarding available sites and other relevant
        business information relating to a business facility and a
        suitable environment for meeting and presenting the
        information to business representatives.
            (3)  To make recommendations to the Governor on the
        organization, ownership and management of the center, to
        include public and private financing and participation,
        future composition and status of the board, potential sites
        for the center, computer systems, consultants, staff,
        contractors and other services needed to establish the
        business resource center.
            (4)  To gather information, issue reports, develop
        marketing material and perform other activities as needed to
        carry out the mission of the center and the purposes of this
        act.
            (5)  To monitor the success of the center in attracting
        prospective businesses to this Commonwealth.
            (6)  To solicit funds from the private sector for the
        purposes of renovation, construction or operation of the
        center.
            (7)  To make a budget recommendation to the Governor.
     Section 7.  Report.
        Before April 1, 1997, the board shall present to the Governor
     and the General Assembly a report of its findings and
     recommendations regarding the establishment and operation of the
     Pennsylvania Business Resource Center, to include a
     recommendation as to whether the board should become a private
     corporate body.
     Section 8.  Expiration.
        The Pennsylvania Business Resource Center Advisory Board and
     Pennsylvania Business Resource Center shall expire on June 30,
     1997, unless continued by the General Assembly.
     Section 9.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect in 30 days.