PRINTER'S NO. 1541
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1382
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY RABB, SAPPEY, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS AND HOWARD,
JUNE 12, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JUNE 12, 2023
AN ACT
Establishing the Natural Fiber Task Force; and imposing duties
on the Department of Agriculture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. Short title.
Section 2. Definitions.
Section 3. Establishment.
Section 4. Purpose.
Section 5. Membership.
Section 6. Officers.
Section 7. Operation generally.
Section 8. Vacancy.
Section 9. Meetings.
Section 10. Quorum.
Section 11. Compensation and expenses.
Section 12. Records.
Section 13. Powers and duties.
Section 14. Access to information and records.
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Section 15. Effective date.
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 Natural Fiber
Task Force Act.
Section 2. 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:
"Natural fibers." Fibers created from protein, cellulose and
mycelium, including wool, hemp, flax, cotton and mushrooms.
"Office." The Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and
Opportunity.
"Task force." The Natural Fiber Task Force established under
section 3.
Section 3. Establishment.
The Natural Fiber Task Force is established as an independent
task force in which the Department of Agriculture has primary
jurisdiction.
Section 4. Purpose.
The task force shall work in collaboration with the public
and private sectors to develop recommendations, policies and
practices for supporting the production, manufacturing and use
of natural fibers in this Commonwealth.
Section 5. Membership.
(a) Number.--The task force shall consist of seven members
appointed in accordance with this section and with the
consideration for diversity of gender, race, ethnicity and
geographical region.
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(b) Applications for nomination.--The following process
shall apply:
(1) The office shall, with administrative support from
the Department of Agriculture, develop and manage a publicly
accessible Internet website for individuals with expertise or
education pertaining to the duties and subject area of the
task force, to submit an application for nomination as a
member of the task force. The office shall permit
applications 90 days prior to consideration of the
applications. After the 90-day application period, the office
may not accept additional nominations until a vacancy on the
task force occurs.
(2) The office shall verify that each applicant for
nomination has the required experience or education regarding
the natural fiber industry or experience with educational
institutions that have programs on natural fiber farming or
industry.
(3) After verification under paragraph (2), the office
shall provide a list of all verified nominations received to:
(i) The Governor.
(ii) The President pro tempore and Minority Leader
of the Senate.
(iii) The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House
of Representatives.
(c) Voting on membership.--The President pro tempore and
Minority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives shall each have one vote
to appoint four nominations from the list to the task force. Two
members shall serve four-year terms and two members shall serve
two-year terms as chosen by the appointing authority. Appointees
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shall receive no less than three votes to be appointed as a
member of the task force.
(d) Appointment by Governor.--The Governor shall appoint
three initial members to the task force from the list of
nominations. Two appointments shall serve a four-year term and
one shall serve a two-year term as chosen by the Governor.
(e) Limit on terms.--A task force member other than an
initial task force member shall serve no more than two four-year
terms or partial terms within a 12-year period.
Section 6. Officers.
By a majority vote, the task force shall elect a chairperson.
The task force may elect a vice chairperson and other officers
the task force deems necessary and appropriate to facilitate the
work of the task force.
Section 7. Operation generally.
(a) Bylaws, rules or procedures.--The task force may adopt
bylaws, rules or procedures that it deems necessary to
accomplish its purposes.
(b) Conduct.--The task force shall establish rules of
procedure to govern the conduct of its members.
(c) Administrative support.--The Department of Agriculture
shall provide administrative support to the task force.
Section 8. Vacancy.
A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment in accordance with section 5.
Partial term vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of
an appointed member of the task force.
Section 9. Meetings.
(a) Initial meeting.--Within 90 days of the effective date
of this subsection, the task force shall hold an initial
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meeting.
(b) Other meetings.--The task force shall meet at least once
quarterly and shall hold other meetings as it deems necessary.
Section 10. Quorum.
(a) Number.--A majority of the members of the task force
shall constitute a quorum.
(b) Official action.--Official action may be taken by the
task force at a meeting upon a vote of a quorum of its members
present in person or through electronic means.
Section 11. Compensation and expenses.
Members of the task force shall not be entitled to
compensation for their services as members but shall be entitled
to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in
the discharge of official duties as members of the task force. A
member of the task force shall be reimbursed in accordance with
Commonwealth policy in effect for agencies under the Governor's
jurisdiction.
Section 12. Records.
Meetings of the task force shall be subject to the
requirements of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
Section 13. Powers and duties.
Subject to section 14, the task force shall have the
following powers and duties:
(1) To work in collaboration with the Department of
Agriculture and other State departments and agencies,
representatives of the agriculture industry, representatives
of the agricultural community, producers and manufacturers of
natural fibers, representatives of academic institutions,
representatives of agricultural organizations,
representatives of fabric and garment manufactures and other
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groups to develop:
(i) recommendations for supporting the expanded use
of natural fibers in general in the fabric, garment and
industrial textile industries and for the industries to
use natural fibers grown in this Commonwealth; and
(ii) policies and practices to promote the
production, manufacturing, procurement and use of natural
fibers in this Commonwealth.
(2) To coordinate the collection of information and
communication-related information on programs and incentives
with Federal, State and local government agencies and
regulatory authorities, academic institutions and
agricultural, conservation, environmental and natural fiber
organizations.
(3) To investigate and study ways to expand the
production, manufacturing and use of natural fibers in this
Commonwealth.
(4) To prepare a report that includes, at a minimum, the
following:
(i) An overview of the status of natural fibers in
this Commonwealth.
(ii) Recommendations regarding the following:
(A) Data collection and dissemination, benchmark
development, targeting practices and transparency for
grant making to promote the production, manufacturing
and use of natural fibers in this Commonwealth.
(B) What practices may be applied to expand the
production, manufacturing and use of natural fibers
in this Commonwealth.
(C) Ways in which laws, regulations and other
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policies that regulate and support the production,
manufacturing and use of natural fibers in this
Commonwealth could be more effectively applied.
(D) Ways in which programs and services offered
by the Department of Agriculture and other State
departments and agencies could provide for the
production, manufacturing and use of natural fibers.
(E) Ways in which regulatory and other
departmental decision-making processes could provide
for the expanded production, manufacturing and use of
natural fibers.
(F) The ongoing role of the task force in
supporting the implementation and monitoring of the
goals specified in this act.
(5) Not later than July 1, 2023, and each July 1
thereafter, to prepare an annual report. The following apply:
(i) Each annual report shall contain recommendations
and provide an update on the status of the task force's
activities relative to the ways in which laws,
regulations and other policies could more effectively
provide for the production, manufacturing and use of
natural fibers in this Commonwealth.
(ii) Each annual report shall be transmitted to the
following:
(A) The Governor.
(B) The Department of Agriculture.
(C) The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
of the Senate.
(D) The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
of the House of Representatives.
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Section 14. Access to information and records.
(a) Logging of information.--When the task force collects
information relating to natural fibers, the production and
manufacturing of natural fibers, agriculture, conservation,
waste reduction relative to the production and manufacturing of
fabric and garments, the environment or any other issue related
to natural fibers, the task force shall log the information and
identify the Commonwealth agency providing the information.
(b) Right-to-Know requests.--Records relating to the task
force shall be accessible for inspection and duplication in
accordance with the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3),
known as the Right-to-Know Law.
Section 15. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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