PRINTER'S NO. 1835
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1292
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, KEARNEY, MILLER AND COSTA, JULY 17, 2024
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JULY 17, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options,
establishing the Supplemental Public Transportation Operating
Assistance Allocation for Growing Counties Grant Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 1517.2. Supplemental Public Transportation Operating
Assistance Allocation for Growing Counties Grant
Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Supplemental Public Transportation
Operating Assistance Allocation for Growing Counties Grant
Program is established in the department.
(b) Powers and duties of department.--The department:
(1) Shall administer the program.
(2) Shall establish an annual operating assistance grant
application process for applicants.
(3) To the extent that money is appropriated or
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otherwise made available to the department for the program,
shall provide operating assistance to eligible entities.
(4) M ay develop guidelines specifying additional
requirements for grants available under the program.
(c) Eligible entities.--The following apply:
(1) The following entities are eligible to apply for a
grant under the program:
(i) an entity that is a recipient of grants awarded
by the department under section 1513 (relating to
operating program) or 1516 (relating to programs of
Statewide significance) and meets the criteria for a
county growing in population under subsection (e); or
(ii) an entity that is a recipient of grants awarded
by the department under section 1513 or 1516 and meets
the criteria for a county growing in employment under
subsection (d).
(2) An eligible entity that meets the requirements under
subsection (d) or (e), or both, may submit one application
annually for grants under the program.
(d) Grants to county growing in employment.--
(1) Total employment growth for each county for the
application grant year shall be calculated by the department
using the most recent complete annual data for local area
unemployment statistics from the Department of Labor and
Industry for the previous year and the same figure from five
years prior, calculated on a percentage basis.
(2) The amount of grant money awarded to an eligible
entity shall be determined on the basis of the overall
percentage growth for that county over the subject
calculation period and awarded to each eligible entity as a
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proportional share of the overall amount available for
distribution to counties growing in employment.
(e) Grants to county growing in population.--
(1) Total population for each county for the application
grant year and for the five years prior shall be determined
by the department using the most recent complete annual data
from the American Community Survey conducted by the United
States Census Bureau.
(2) The amount of money awarded to an eligible entity
shall be determined on the basis of the overall percentage
growth for that county over the subject calculation period
and awarded to each eligible entity as a proportional share
of the overall amount available for distribution to counties
growing in population.
(f) Appropriations.--
(1) Money shall be appropriated on an annual basis for
the purpose of awarding grants under the program. The
appropriation under this paragraph shall be in addition to
any money allocated under section 1513 or 1516.
(2) Money appropriated to the department for the program
shall be allocated annually, based upon eligible applications
as follows:
(i) Fifty percent to eligible entities within
counties growing in employment.
(ii) Fifty percent to eligible entities within
counties growing in population.
(g) Use of grant money.--Grants awarded under the program
are subject to the same purposes, limitations, conditions and
requirements specified in section 1513 or 1516.
(h) Local match requirement limitation.--The department may
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not require a local match requirement greater than the match
requirement under section 1513(d).
(i) Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used
in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"American community survey." An ongoing annual survey by the
United States Census Bureau that publishes and collects data on
the population of the United States in accordance with 13 U.S.C.
ยงยง 141 (relating to population and other census information) and
193 (relating to preliminary and supplemental statistics).
"County growing in employment." A county with a total number
of employed individuals in the preceding calendar year which is
higher than the total number of employed individuals in that
county over the preceding five years.
"County growing in population." A county with a total
population in the grant application year which is higher than
the total population of that over the preceding five years.
"Local area unemployment statistics." A program that is a
Federal-State cooperative effort between the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States Department of Labor and the
Department of Labor and Industry of the Commonwealth in which
monthly estimates of total employment and unemployment are
prepared and published on a periodic basis.
"Program." The Supplemental Public Transportation Operating
Assistance Allocation for Growing Counties Grant Program
established under subsection (a).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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