Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB379 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

                             
PRINTER'S NO. 326 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL 
No.379 
Session of 
2025 
INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, STREET, KANE AND COSTA, MARCH 6, 2025 
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 6, 2025 
AN ACT
Providing for reimbursement of Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls for 
certain companies; establishing the Pennsylvania Turnpike-to- 
Port Freight Reimbursement Fund; providing for duties of the 
Department of Transportation; and imposing penalties.
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 Pennsylvania 
Turnpike-to-Port Freight Reimbursement 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:
"Company."  Either of the following:
(1)  A business that is a licensee of the Pennsylvania 
PreferredĀ® trademark under 3 Pa.C.S. Ch. 46 (relating to 
Pennsylvania PreferredĀ® trademark).
(2)  A business that meets all of the following 
requirements:
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19 (i)  Has a physical headquarters located in this 
Commonwealth.
(ii)  Is registered with the Department of State of 
the Commonwealth.
(iii)  Grows or manufactures products in this 
Commonwealth.
(iv)  Uses the Pennsylvania Turnpike to transport 
products to the Port of Philadelphia for the purpose of 
shipping.
"Department."  The Department of Transportation of the 
Commonwealth.
"Fund."  The Pennsylvania Turnpike-to-Port Freight 
Reimbursement Fund established under section 3(a).
"Turnpike."  The Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Section 3.  Pennsylvania Turnpike-to-Port Freight Reimbursement 
Fund.
(a)  Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Turnpike-to-Port 
Freight Reimbursement Fund is established in the State Treasury 
for the purpose of reimbursing companies that pay tolls on the 
turnpike to transport products to the Port of Philadelphia for 
shipping. The money in the fund is appropriated on a continuing 
basis to the department.
(b)  Application for reimbursement.--A company may apply to 
the department for reimbursement from the fund. The department 
shall provide an application form. A company shall submit all of 
the following with the application:
(1)  An itemized inventory of the products transported 
via the turnpike.
(2)  The place of origin of the products.
(3)  The name and address of any shipping contractor used 
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30 for transporting the products via the turnpike.
(4)  Proof of payment of turnpike tolls by the company or 
shipping contractor.
(5)  The date and time of the arrival of the products to 
the Port of Philadelphia.
(6)  Documentation that the products were shipped from 
the Port of Philadelphia, including the date of shipping, the 
name of the ship and the destination of the products.
(7)  The number of full-time, part-time and contract 
employees with the company.
(8)  The annual revenues of the company.
(9)  The history of the company, including when and where 
it was founded and how it has grown from founding to the 
present in terms of number of employees, revenues and 
locations.
(c)  Investigation of application.--The department shall 
investigate and confirm the accuracy of an application under 
subsection (b). The department may confer with the Pennsylvania 
Turnpike Commission and the Port of Philadelphia to confirm the 
accuracy of an application.
(d)  Timing.--An application for reimbursement to the 
department shall be submitted on a quarterly basis. If 
sufficient money is available in the fund, the department shall 
reimburse a company within 60 days of the date that an 
application is confirmed to be accurate under subsection (c).
Section 4.  Penalties.
(a)  Penalties.--If the department determines that a company 
has submitted a false application or if the department 
erroneously paid a reimbursement due to false information, the 
company:
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30 (1)  shall pay back the reimbursement, if any;
(2)  is prohibited from seeking reimbursement from the 
fund; and
(3)  is subject to a $5,000 fine.
(b)  Deposit of fines.--Any fines collected under subsection 
(a) shall be deposited into the fund.
Section 5.  Fund balance.
The fund balance shall be limited to $2,500,000, and any 
amount in excess of $2,500,000 shall be transferred to the 
General Fund.
Section 6.  Reporting.
Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 
department shall submit an annual report of the fund to the 
General Assembly.
Section 7.  Regulations.
The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania 
Turnpike Commission, may promulgate rules and regulations 
necessary to administer and enforce this act.
Section 8.  Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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