PRINTER'S NO. 1973
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1669
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, PICKETT, HANBIDGE, SHUSTERMAN AND CIRESI,
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public
Corporations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
Commonwealth Financing Authority, establishing the PA Sewer
Repair Program; and making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 64 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1559. PA Sewer Repair Program.
(a) Establishment.--The PA Sewer Repair Program is
established. The program shall provide financial assistance in
the form of single-year or multiyear grants to municipalities
and municipal authorities for sewer projects which, when
completed, construct, improve, expand, rehabilitate or repair
sanitary sewer system projects.
(b) Application.--A municipality or a municipal authority
may submit an application to the authority requesting financial
assistance for a sanitary sewer system project. The application
must be on the form required by the board and must include or
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demonstrate all of the following:
(1) The name and address of the applicant.
(2) A statement of the type and amount of financial
assistance sought. If the applicant is requesting financial
assistance in the form of a grant, the request may not exceed
75% of the cost of the sanitary sewer system project.
(3) A statement of the sanitary sewer system project,
including a detailed statement of the cost of the sanitary
sewer system project.
(4) Proof that the cost of the sanitary sewer system
project is not less than $1,000,000.
(5) A financial commitment from a responsible source for
any cost of the sanitary sewer system project in excess of
the amount requested. If the applicant is requesting
financial assistance in the form of a grant from the
department, the financial commitment may not be in the form
of a grant from a Commonwealth agency.
(6) A firm commitment from the project user to use the
sanitary sewer system upon completion.
(7) Proof that the applicant has secured planning and
permit approvals for the sanitary sewer system from the
Department of Environmental Protection.
(8) Any other information required by the board.
(c) Review and approval of grant applications.--
(1) If an applicant is requesting financial assistance
in the form of a grant, the authority, in conjunction with
the Department of Environmental Protection, shall review the
application to determine all of the following:
(i) If there is a financial commitment for at least
25% of the sanitary sewer system project.
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(ii) If the source of the financial commitment is
from a responsible source.
(iii) If the applicant is firmly committed to using
the sanitary sewer system project upon completion.
(iv) If the applicant has secured planning and
permit approvals for the sanitary sewer system project
from the Department of Environmental Protection. The
sanitary sewer system project must be generally
consistent with any applicable county or local
comprehensive plans.
(v) If the applicant complied with all other
criteria established by the board.
(2) Upon being satisfied that all program requirements
have been met, the authority may approve the application
consistent with all of the following:
(i) The grant may not exceed $10,000,000 per
sanitary sewer system project.
(ii) Grants under this program shall not exceed
$10,000,000 in the aggregate per municipality or
municipal authority.
(iii) The aggregate amount of grants awarded under
this subsection shall not exceed $250,000,000.
(iv) The board shall give priority consideration to
sanitary sewer system projects which are integral for
development or redevelopment of sites which are planned
for development.
(v) The board has received notice from the Secretary
of the Budget that the sanitary sewer system project
satisfies the Federal tax status requirements of any
bonds used to fund the grant.
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(3) If the authority approves the application, the
authority shall notify the department of the amount approved.
(d) Appropriation.--The sum of $1,000,000,000 shall be
appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund to the
authority to provide financial assistance under the program.
(e) Report to General Assembly.--
(1) The authority shall submit an annual report to the
General Assembly no later than September 1 following the
first fiscal year or any portion thereof in which the program
is in effect and no later than September 1 for all succeeding
fiscal years in which the program is in effect. The report
shall include a list of all of the recipients of grants
awarded by the authority in the previous fiscal year, the
amount of the grants awarded, a description of the sanitary
sewer system project and the public purposes that the
sanitary sewer system project advances.
(2) The authority shall post a copy of the report to the
General Assembly on the publicly accessible Internet website
of the department and the publicly accessible Internet
website of the Department of Environmental Protection. The
reports shall remain on the sites until the reports for the
next year are posted.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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