Pennsylvania Act 1987-16 — RURAL PENNSYLVANIA REVITALIZATION ACT

Act text

AN ACT

Providing for the revitalization of rural Pennsylvania; establishing the Center for Rural Pennsylvania; providing for rural education partnerships and adult literacy programs; allocating funds appropriated to the Department of Commerce for a Regional Center for Continuing Education of Health Science Practitioners in western Pennsylvania; making appropriations; and making a repeal.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Section 101. Short title.

Chapter 3. Center for Rural Pennsylvania

Section 301. Establishment of Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Section 302. Board of directors.

Section 303. Duties of Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Section 304. Grants.

Section 305. Administrative matters.

Section 306. Data base.

Chapter 4. Rural Population Revitalization Commission

Section 401. Scope of chapter.

Section 402. Definitions.

Section 403. Establishment.

Section 404. Duties.

Section 405. Membership.

Section 406. Meetings.

Section 407. Expenses.

Section 408. Administrative support.

Chapter 5. Rural Education Programs

Subchapter A. Rural Education Partnerships

Section 501. Purposes.

Section 502. Eligibility; funding.

Subchapter B. Rural Adult Literacy Program

Section 531. Purpose of program.

Chapter 7. Regional Center for Continuing Education

Section 701. Regional Center for Continuing Education.

Chapter 9. Appropriations

Section 901. Appropriation for Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Section 902. Appropriation to State System of Higher Education.

Section 903. Appropriation to Department of Commerce.

Section 904. Appropriations nonlapsing.

Chapter 11. Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1101. Repeal.

Section 1102. Effective date.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 101. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act.

CHAPTER 3

CENTER FOR RURAL PENNSYLVANIA

Section 301. Establishment of Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

There is hereby established the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which shall be an agency of the General Assembly.

Section 302. Board of directors.

(a) Members.--The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall be governed by a board of directors which shall consist of members appointed as follows:

(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members from the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.

(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members from the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.

(3) Two members shall be representatives of universities in the State System of Higher Education.

(4) Two members shall be from The Pennsylvania State University, one of whom shall be from Penn State Extension.

(5) One member shall be from the University of Pittsburgh.

(6) The Governor shall appoint two members from among the memberships of the following Statewide organizations: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, Pennsylvania State Grange and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

(7) One member shall be from the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College.

(8) One member shall be from the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

((a) amended June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

(b) Terms.--The term of office of all members of the board shall be two years. Each member shall be eligible to be reappointed to the board.

(c) Meetings; quorum.--The board shall meet at least every four months, or as often as it deems necessary. A simple majority of the duly qualified members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(d) Expenses.--The members of the board, except for the director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, shall serve without salary or compensation, but shall be entitled to such expenses as are reasonable and necessary to the performance of their duties.

(302 amended Oct. 9, 2009, P.L.592, No.52)

Compiler's Note: See section 3 of Act 21 of 2024, which amended subsec. (a), in the appendix to this act for special provisions relating to continuation of prior law.

Section 303. Duties of Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

(a) Principal duty.--The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall administer grants to conduct research on matters related to rural conditions. The role of the center shall be to facilitate and coordinate basic and applied research and service components for faculty, staff and students of those institutions identified in section 304(a) dealing in issues regarding the welfare of rural Pennsylvania.

(b) Regulations.--The board shall promulgate regulations concerning the grant program administered by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Section 304. Grants.

(a) Eligibility.--Grants shall be available only to the qualified faculty members of the various colleges and university members of the State System of Higher Education and the current land grant university and the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh.

(b) Amounts.--No grant shall exceed the sum of $60,000.

(c) Subjects.--The subject areas of the grant program are as follows:

(1) Rural people and communities.

(2) Economic development.

(3) Local government finance and administration.

(4) Community services.

(5) Natural resources and environment.

(6) Educational outreach.

(7) Rural values and social change.

(8) Agriculture.

(9) Health and welfare concerns.

(304 amended Oct. 9, 2009, P.L.592, No.52)

Section 305. Administrative matters.

(a) Director.--The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall be operated by a director, who shall be selected by the board.

(b) Duties of director.--The director shall employ such persons as he or she deems appropriate for the administration of the grant programs authorized by this act. The director shall also make such other expenditures as the board deems necessary, providing that not more than 15% of the appropriation shall be used for administrative expenses.

Section 306. Data base.

(a) Creation.--The Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall develop and maintain an appropriate base of knowledge and information about rural conditions and needs. This shall be accomplished through a data base.

(b) Major areas.--The data base shall include the following major areas of concern:

(1) Agriculture.

(2) Economic development.

(3) Local government capacity and fiscal stress indicators.

(4) Transportation.

(5) Sociodemographics.

(6) Health care and human services.

(7) Environment and natural resources.

(8) Education.

(9) Condition of the extant local infrastructure of Pennsylvania's rural communities.

(c) Arrangement.--The data shall be arranged in such a manner so as to facilitate the monitoring of relationships between and among the various sectors identified for inclusion in the information system.

CHAPTER 4

RURAL POPULATION REVITALIZATION COMMISSION

(Ch. added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 401. Scope of chapter.

This chapter relates to the Rural Population Revitalization Commission.

(401 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 402. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commission." The Rural Population Revitalization Commission established in section 403.

"Rural county." A county located in this Commonwealth with a population density less than 291 people per square mile, or as otherwise defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

"Rural school district." A public school district located in this Commonwealth with a population density less than 291 people per square mile, or as otherwise defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

(402 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 403. Establishment.

The Rural Population Revitalization Commission is established.

(403 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 404. Duties.

(a) Reviews and recommendations.--After issuing an initial report under subsection (b)(12), the commission shall issue a biennial report on population change in rural areas of this Commonwealth which shall include reviews and recommendations aimed at attracting and retaining residents in rural Pennsylvania while addressing challenges facing rural communities due to population shifts and changing demographics. Reviews and recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas:

(1) Increasing participation in the Federal decennial census.

(2) Attracting and retaining residents in rural Pennsylvania.

(3) Education and career opportunities.

(4) Access to health care.

(5) Affordable housing.

(6) Access to social services.

(7) Current issues facing rural Pennsylvania.

(8) Grant awards and tax credit opportunities for rural Pennsylvania residents and businesses.

(9) Statutory and regulatory costs and impacts on rural municipal governments, businesses and communities.

(10) Other issues facing rural Pennsylvania as identified by the commission.

(b) Additional powers and duties.--The commission shall have the following additional powers and duties:

(1) Review, make findings and offer recommendations related to addressing and mitigating rural population shifts in this Commonwealth.

(2) Consult with and utilize experts to assist the commission in carrying out the duties under this subsection.

(3) Receive input from interested parties.

(4) Hold public hearings in different regions of this Commonwealth. Virtual public hearings may be utilized by the commission.

(5) Review and consider rural development strategies utilized throughout the United States.

(6) Review the administration and operation of State and regional programs and services and make recommendations to implement new policies, statutes and regulations on improving quality of life and attracting residents to rural communities.

(7) Recommend proposed legislation and regulatory changes based on the commission's findings.

(8) Create and maintain a database on rural Pennsylvania's demographic conditions and trends.

(9) Establish subcommittees, including noncommission members subject to the approval of the chairperson, to address specific population change issues.

(10) Provide periodic estimates on the fiscal impact of population changes to local governments, such as projected changes in tax revenue resulting from population changes.

(11) Collect and distribute information about available public grants, services and resources available to rural communities.

(12) Not later than 90 days after the effective date of this paragraph the commission shall convene its first meeting under section 406, and no later than two years after the first meeting the commission shall transmit an initial report of the commission's findings and recommendations to the following:

(i) The Governor.

(ii) All members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(iii) The Center for Rural Pennsylvania's publicly accessible Internet website.

(404 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 405. Membership.

(a) Members.--The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) Two individuals appointed by the Governor.

(2) Two members from the Senate appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.

(3) Two members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.

(4) The director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania or a designee.

(5) A representative from the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.

(6) A young adult selected from a Statewide general farm organization selected by the chairperson.

(7) A representative from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania who holds office in a rural county.

(8) A representative from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania from a rural county with interest or experience in human services.

(9) A representative from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association from a rural school district.

(10) A representative from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry who resides in or operates a business in a rural county.

(11) The executive director of the Pennsylvania Rural Development Council or a designee.

(12) A representative from the State System of Higher Education who represents a university located in a rural county.

(b) Chairperson.--The director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania shall serve as chairperson of the commission until the commission elects a chairperson from the membership. The members of the commission shall elect a vice chairperson from among the members of the commission. The member elected vice chairperson shall serve in that capacity for the ensuing term.

(c) Considerations.--Members appointed under subsection (a) shall:

(1) have knowledge of problems facing rural communities in this Commonwealth;

(2) have experience in advocacy relating to rural issues; or

(3) provide leadership in programs or activities that improve the quality of life for rural communities or attract and retain residents in rural Pennsylvania.

(d) Terms.--The term of office of all members of the commission shall be two years. Each member shall be eligible to be reappointed to the commission.

(405 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 406. Meetings.

The commission shall hold its first meeting within 90 days of the effective date of this section, with quorum based upon the majority of the members who have been appointed. The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the chairperson on no less than four different dates annually.

(406 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 407. Expenses.

The members of the commission shall serve without salary or compensation but shall be entitled to expenses that are reasonable and necessary to perform their duties.

(407 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

Section 408. Administrative support.

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania staff shall provide administrative support, meeting space and any other assistance required by the commission to carry out the commission's duties under this chapter.

(408 added June 10, 2024, P.L.382, No.21)

CHAPTER 5

RURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SUBCHAPTER A

RURAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS

Section 501. Purposes.

The State System of Higher Education, in cooperation with its member universities, shall establish a program of education partnerships to provide outreach and services to rural school districts and other rural groups which will result in the sharing of the resources of the universities for the benefit of the rural population. In addition, the education partnership program shall attempt to increase participation in higher education by students from rural areas.

Section 502. Eligibility; funding.

The State System of Higher Education shall allocate funds to each participating member university based upon the geographic size and population of its rural serving area. No allocation shall be less than $10,000. All funds appropriated by this act shall be distributed to the participating member universities.

SUBCHAPTER B

RURAL ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM

Section 531. Purpose of program.

The State System of Higher Education, in cooperation with Clarion University, shall establish a Rural Adult Literacy Program. The purposes and objectives of the program are:

(1) To gather information that more directly identifies the intensity of illiteracy among Pennsylvania's rural adults.

(2) To identify resource people, representing both the private as well as the public sector, who can assist in combating adult illiteracy through the use of the local public library.

(3) To organize a conference dealing with the topic of illiteracy that would involve the resource people identified in paragraph (2).

(4) To develop viable strategies that can be implemented in the rural public library to overcome adult illiteracy.

(5) To develop a demonstration project in a Pennsylvania rural public library which will put into practice strategies of overcoming adult illiteracy.

(6) To evaluate this demonstration project for the possibility of use in other places in Pennsylvania.

CHAPTER 7

REGIONAL CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION

Section 701. Regional Center for Continuing Education.

The Department of Commerce shall allocate the sum of $400,000 to the University of Pittsburgh to establish a Regional Center for Continuing Education of Health Science Practitioners in western Pennsylvania. The proposed Regional Center will provide the 23 counties of western Pennsylvania with an outreach program of continuing education, consultation and evaluation services as close as possible to "where they live" in order to increase their expertise in providing health care to the residents of the region and in planning and evaluating regional health services.

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.

CHAPTER 9

APPROPRIATIONS

Section 901. Appropriation for Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

The sum of $700,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania for the fiscal year July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1987, to carry out the provisions of Chapter 3 of this act. Two hundred thousand dollars of the $700,000 appropriation shall be used to create a data base for rural Pennsylvania.

Section 902. Appropriation to State System of Higher Education.

(a) The sum of $225,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the State System of Higher Education for the fiscal year July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1987, for the establishment and operation of the rural education partnership programs.

(b) The sum of $50,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the State System of Higher Education for the fiscal year July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1987, for allocation to the Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship of the College of Library Science, Clarion University of Pennsylvania of the State System of Higher Education for the purposes set forth in section 531.

Section 903. Appropriation to Department of Commerce.

The sum of $400,000 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Commerce for the fiscal year July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1987, for allocation to the University of Pittsburgh to establish a Regional Center for Continuing Education of Health Science Practitioners in western Pennsylvania in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7.

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 904. Appropriations nonlapsing.

The appropriations made in sections 901, 902 and 903 shall be continuing appropriations and shall not lapse until June 30, 1988.

CHAPTER 11

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1101. Repeal.

The appropriation in the amount of $2,750,000 to the Department of Commerce for Rural Economic Development in section 208 of the act of July 1, 1986 (P.L.1776, No.5A), known as the General Appropriation Act of 1986, is repealed insofar as that appropriation exceeds the sum of $1,375,000. The sum of money repealed by this section is reappropriated in sections 901, 902 and 903 of this act.

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 1102. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.

APPENDIX

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Supplementary Provisions of Amendatory Statutes

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2024, JUNE 10, P.L.382, NO.21

Section 3. The addition of section 302(a)(7) and (8) of the act is a continuation of section 311 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929. Except as otherwise provided in the addition of section 302(a)(7) or (8) of the act, all activities initiated under section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929 shall continue and remain in full force and effect and may be completed under section 302(a)(7) or (8) of the act. Orders, regulations, rules and decisions which were made under section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929 and in effect on the effective date of section 2(2) of this act shall remain in full force and effect until revoked, vacated or modified under section 302(a)(7) or (8) of the act. Contracts, obligations and collective bargaining agreements entered into under section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929 are not affected nor impaired by the repeal of section 311 of The Administrative Code of 1929.

Explanatory Note: Act 21 amended or added section 302 and Chapter 4 of the act.