THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CHRISTIANA, CIVERA, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOYD, BURNS, CAUSER, CUTLER, DALLY, DAY, DELOZIER, ELLIS, FAIRCHILD, FARRY, FLECK, GABIG, GABLER, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HARRIS, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KRIEGER, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MATZIE, METZGAR, MILLER, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PYLE, QUIGLEY, RAPP, REED, REESE, REICHLEY, ROAE, SCAVELLO, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TURZAI, CREIGHTON, GEIST, HORNAMAN, SIPTROTH, STEVENSON AND VULAKOVICH, APRIL 21, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 21, 2009  

AN ACT

Establishing a temporary oversight council to analyze and report

to the General Assembly regarding the utilization of Federal

Stimulus funding in Pennsylvania.

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 Federal

Stimulus Funding Oversight Council Act.

Section 2.  Council established.

(a)  Establishment.--The Federal Stimulus Funding Oversight

Council is established.

(b)  Members.--The council shall consist of nine members to

be appointed as follows:

(1)  Four legislative appointments:

(i)  one from the Senate Democratic Caucus;

(ii)  one from the Senate Republican Caucus;

(iii)  one from the House Democratic Caucus; and

(iv)  one from the House Republican Caucus.

Each member shall be appointed by his respective caucus

leader.

(2)  A person appointed by the Governor.

(3)  A person appointed to represent school districts.

(4)  A person appointed to represent local governments.

(5)  A person appointed to represent organized labor.

(6)  A person appointed to represent the Pennsylvania

Chamber of Business and Industry.

(c)  Nonlegislative appointments.--The nonlegislative

appointments referred to in subsection (b) shall be made by the

Governor and shall not require the advice and consent of the

Senate.

Section 3.  Duties of council.

The Federal Stimulus Funding Oversight Council shall have the

following specific duties:

(1)  to study, analyze and report on the degree of

transparency to taxpayers and other government officials in

the distribution and utilization of funds pursuant to the

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law

111-5, 123 Stat. 115);

(2)  to study, analyze and report on the scope, amount

and nature of job growth in this Commonwealth under the

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

(3)  to study, analyze and report on the scope and nature

of other economic activity that occurs in this Commonwealth

under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

(4)  to study, analyze and report on the long-term impact

on State spending as a result of the utilization of funds in

this Commonwealth under the American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act of 2009; and

(5)  to study, analyze and report on the regulatory and

administrative impediments to the utilization of funds in

this Commonwealth under the American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Section 4.  Internet website.

The Federal Stimulus Funding Oversight Council shall

establish an Internet website to make available to the public

information on the utilization of any funds under the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5, 123

Stat. 115).

Section 5.  Interagency cooperation.

All government agencies receiving funds from the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5, 123

Stat. 115) shall cooperate with the Federal Stimulus Funding

Oversight Council in the fulfillment of the duties of the

council as required by this act.

Section 6.  Expiration.

This act shall expire on February 17, 2012.

Section 7.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.