PRINTER'S NO. 180
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.151
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, HAYWOOD, STREET, COLLETT, KEARNEY,
SCHWANK, SAVAL, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE AND KANE, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
REFERRED TO APPROPRIATIONS, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," in Independent Fiscal Office, further providing
for definitions and for duties of office and providing for
poverty impact analysis.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 602-B of the act of April 9, 1929
(P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, is
amended by adding definitions to read:
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28 Section 602-B. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Poverty impact analysis." An analysis of:
(1) A proposed budget that includes:
(i) A projected ratio equal to the amount of
appropriations in the proposed budget that will benefit
individuals and families below the poverty threshold over
the total amount of appropriations in the proposed
budget.
(ii) A projection of the number of individual and
family incomes that may:
(A) decrease below the poverty threshold if the
proposed budget is enacted; or
(B) increase above the poverty threshold if the
proposed budget is enacted.
(iii) A projection as to how the proposed budget
improves or reduces access to basic human services,
including health care, housing and education.
(2) An enacted budget that includes:
(i) A projected ratio equal to the amount of
appropriations in the proposed budget that will benefit
individuals and families below the poverty threshold over
the total amount of appropriations in the proposed
budget.
(ii) A projection of the number of individual and
family incomes that may:
(A) decrease below the poverty threshold if the
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30 proposed budget is enacted; or
(B) increase above the poverty threshold if the
proposed budget is enacted.
(iii) A projection as to how the proposed budget
improves or reduces access to basic human services,
including health care, housing and education.
(3) Any bill, amendment or joint resolution to determine
the impact, if any, the proposed bill, amendment or joint
resolution may have on the poverty and deep poverty rate of
this Commonwealth.
"Poverty threshold." Household income level below 200% of
the Federal poverty level.
* * *
Section 2. Section 604-B(a) of the act is amended by adding
a paragraph to read:
Section 604-B. Duties of office.
(a) Mandatory.--The office shall:
* * *
(4.1) Conduct a poverty impact analysis authorized under
section 616-B.
* * *
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 616-B. Poverty impact analysis.
(a) Analysis required.--The office shall conduct a poverty
impact analysis of the following:
(1) The Governor's proposed General Fund Budget, which
shall be completed by May 1 of each year.
(2) The enacted General Fund Budget of the fiscal year,
which shall be completed within 90 days after the enactment
of the General Fund Budget.
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30 (3) Any bill, amendment or joint resolution on written
request of a requesting officer.
(b) Second consideration prohibited.--Except as otherwise
provided in subsection (d)(1), a bill for which a poverty impact
analysis has been requested under subsection (a)(3) may not be
given second consideration by the chamber of the General
Assembly whose member made the request until the office has
attached the poverty impact analysis.
(c) Amendment.--Except as otherwise provided in subsection
(d)(2), an amendment for which a poverty impact analysis has
been requested under subsection (a)(3) or the bill to which the
amendment is offered may not be considered by the chamber of the
General Assembly whose member made the request until the office
has attached a poverty impact analysis.
(d) Failure to attach.--
(1) If the office fails to attach a poverty impact
analysis to a bill within 10 legislative days after a request
for a statement has been submitted to the office, the bill
may be further considered in the same manner as if the
analysis were attached to the bill.
(2) If the office fails to attach a poverty impact
analysis to an amendment within 10 legislative days after a
request for a statement has been submitted to the office, the
bill and the amendment may be considered in the same manner
as if the analysis were attached to the amendment.
(e) Readability.-- The poverty impact statement shall be
impartial, simple and understandable.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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