PRINTER'S NO. 2735
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2132
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, O'NEAL, HOWARD, JAMES, KHAN, MARCELL,
MERSKI, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, DONAHUE, HADDOCK, NEILSON,
PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, BOYD, BELLMON, SCHLOSSBERG AND OTTEN,
MARCH 19, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, MARCH 19, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Pennsylvania Ireland
Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Ireland Trade
Commission Account; imposing duties on the Department of
Community and Economic Development; and making an editorial
change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 15 heading of Title 12 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
CHAPTER 15
[(Reserved)]
PENNSYLVANIA IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION
Section 2. Chapter 15 of Title 12 is amended by adding
sections to read:
§ 1501. 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:
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"Account." The Pennsylvania Ireland Trade Commission Account
established under section 1503 (relating to Pennsylvania Ireland
Trade Commission Account).
"Commission." The Pennsylvania Ireland Trade Commission
established under section 1502 (relating to establishment of
commission).
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Financial assets." Monetary and other financial gifts,
grants, donations, bequests, payments and other monetary
contributions from any source.
§ 1502. Establishment of commission.
The Pennsylvania Ireland Trade Commission is established
within the department.
§ 1503. Pennsylvania Ireland Trade Commission Account.
The Pennsylvania Ireland Trade Commission Account is
established within the General Fund to accept money, gifts,
grants and bequests received under section 1510 (relating to
money, gifts, grants and bequests). The money in the account is
appropriated on a continuing basis to the commission for the
commission's administrative expenses.
§ 1504. Membership requirements.
(a) Appointments.--The commission shall consist of the
following members:
(1) Seven members appointed by the Governor, which shall
include:
(i) At least one representative from a public
institution of higher education.
(ii) At least one representative from the
Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce or a successor
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organization.
(iii) At least two members representating Irish-
American communities, neither of whom shall be members of
the same political party.
(2) Two individuals appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate.
(3) Two individuals appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(4) Two individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of
the Senate.
(5) Two individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives.
(b) Qualifications.--All members appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall have
current or past involvement in organizations that promote Irish
affairs or have interest in the well-being of trade relations
between Pennsylvania and Ireland.
(c) Length of term.--
(1) The members appointed under subsection (a)(1) shall
serve for a term of four years.
(2) Members appointed under subsection (a)(2), (3), (4)
and (5) shall serve for a term of two years.
(d) Inital appointments.--Inital appointments to the
commission shall be made no later than 90 days after the
effective date of this subsection.
(e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the membership of the
commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment was made.
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(f) Compensation prohibited.--Members of the commission
shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for
expenses actually incurred in the performance of the member's
duties within the limit of money appropriated to the commission
or otherwise made available to the commission for its purposes.
(g) Chair.--The President pro tempore of the Senate shall
designate one chair from among the President pro tempore's
appointments. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
designate one chair from among the Speaker of the House of
Representatives' appointments.
(h) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the commission
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of
the commission.
§ 1505. Meetings.
The commission shall meet quarterly and hold hearings as
necessary at the places it designates within this Commonwealth.
§ 1506. Applicability.
The following acts shall apply to the commission:
(1) The act of July 19, 1957 (P.L.1017, No.451), known
as the State Adverse Interest Act.
(2) The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as
the Right-to-Know Law.
(3) The provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Chs. 7 (relating to
open meetings) and 11 (relating to ethics standards and
financial disclosure).
§ 1507. Fiduciary relationship.
The members of the commission shall stand in a fiduciary
relationship with the Commonwealth and the commission as to the
financial assets of the commission.
§ 1508. Powers and duties.
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The commission shall have and may exercise all powers and
duties necessary or appropriate to carry out and effectuate the
commission's purposes, including:
(1) A dvance bilateral trade and investment between
Pennsylvania and Ireland.
(2) Initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual
interest to Pennsylvania and Ireland.
(3) Promote business and academic exchanges between
Pennsylvania and Ireland.
(4) Encourage mutual economic support between
Pennsylvania and Ireland.
(5) Encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of
Pennsylvania and Ireland.
(6) For the purposes of defraying the administrative
expenses of the commission and implementing and administering
the provisions of this chapter, raise and accept financial
assets through direct solicitations or other fundraising
events alone or in conjunction with other persons.
(7) Adopt bylaws, if necessary.
(8) Address other issues as determined by the
commission.
§ 1509. Report.
The commission shall report its findings, results and
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly within
one year of the commission's initial organizational meeting and
by February 1 of each succeeding year for the activities in the
preceding calendar year. The report shall be in writing and
include recommendations as deemed appropriate by the commission
to effectuate the commission's purposes.
§ 1510. Money, gifts, grants and bequests.
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The commission is authorized to raise money through direct
solicitation and other fundraising events alone or with other
groups and accept gifts, grants and bequests from individuals,
corporations, foundations, governmental agencies and public and
private organizations and institutions to defray the
commission's administrative expenses and to carry out the
commission's purposes.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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