HB 24-06: Anthracite Region Investment Act (Passed)

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An Act

To increase investment in development and environmental reclamation in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania.

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “Anthracite Region Investment Act".

Section 2. Definitions

As used in Act, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context —
  (1) the term “Anthracite Region” shall mean the following counties in the State of Pennsylvania —
      (a) Carbon;
      (b) Columbia;
      (c) Lackawanna;
      (d) Luzerne;
      (e) Northumberland; and
      (f) Schuylkill;
  (2) the term "qualified purpose" shall mean the following in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania—
      (a) the purchase, and restoration or redevelopment, of abandoned mine land and other approved property;
      (b) the cleanup of waterways and their tributaries, both surface and subsurface;
      (c) financial and technical assistance for infrastructure construction and upgrading;
      (d) any necessary costs for research and development; and
      (e) other related environmental and economic development purposes in such region.

Section 3. Grant program

(a) In general. —

There shall be created a "Anthracite Region Redevelopment Grant Program", which shall be managed under the Environmental Protection Agency.

(b) Purpose. —

The Anthracite Region Redevelopment Grant Program shall —
  (1) receive applications from businesses, other entities, and individuals; and
  (2) determine which proposals for environmental and economic development plans meet —
      (a) the requirements of a qualified purpose; and
      (b) other such aspects as necessary, including, but not limited to —
          (i) feasibility;
          (ii) cost;
          (iii) effectiveness; and
          (iv) any past activities by the applicant(s).

(c) Revocation. —

In the event of any —
  (1) fraud;
  (2) misconduct; or
  (3) other misuse of any grant money received as listed in the signed agreements to receive such grant —
      (a) any such grants received shall be payed back in full; and
      (b) any failure to do so shall result in further civil and criminal penalties.

Section 4. Effective date

This Act shall take effect immediately on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Peoples Regional Senate
Passed 5-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

Sponsor: Thumb21
House Designation: HB 24-06

72 hours to debate.

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This is a bill which I pinched from the Senate queue. It sets up a program to invest in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania to help support economic development and will have my full support.

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Why are we doing this?

To provide support to a region which has been hit hard by the decline of local industries.

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Why are we doing this?

To provide support to a region which has been hit hard by the decline of local industries.

What's special about NE PA that wouldn't apply to my Atlasian home state of West Virginia or other places? I guess that's the question I'm really asking.

This question did come up in the Senate debate and there is now a similar bill that is going through the Senate for Appalachia as a whole:
https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=374009.0

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Motion for a final vote

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Final vote

72 hours

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Aye

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Passed

5-0-1-3

[thumb21]

An Act

To increase investment in development and environmental reclamation in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania.

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “Anthracite Region Investment Act".

Section 2. Definitions

As used in Act, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context —
  (1) the term “Anthracite Region” shall mean the following counties in the State of Pennsylvania —
      (a) Carbon;
      (b) Columbia;
      (c) Lackawanna;
      (d) Luzerne;
      (e) Northumberland; and
      (f) Schuylkill;
  (2) the term "qualified purpose" shall mean the following in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania—
      (a) the purchase, and restoration or redevelopment, of abandoned mine land and other approved property;
      (b) the cleanup of waterways and their tributaries, both surface and subsurface;
      (c) financial and technical assistance for infrastructure construction and upgrading;
      (d) any necessary costs for research and development; and
      (e) other related environmental and economic development purposes in such region.

Section 3. Grant program

(a) In general. —

There shall be created a "Anthracite Region Redevelopment Grant Program", which shall be managed under the Environmental Protection Agency.

(b) Purpose. —

The Anthracite Region Redevelopment Grant Program shall —
  (1) receive applications from businesses, other entities, and individuals; and
  (2) determine which proposals for environmental and economic development plans meet —
      (a) the requirements of a qualified purpose; and
      (b) other such aspects as necessary, including, but not limited to —
          (i) feasibility;
          (ii) cost;
          (iii) effectiveness; and
          (iv) any past activities by the applicant(s).

(c) Revocation. —

In the event of any —
  (1) fraud;
  (2) misconduct; or
  (3) other misuse of any grant money received as listed in the signed agreements to receive such grant —
      (a) any such grants received shall be payed back in full; and
      (b) any failure to do so shall result in further civil and criminal penalties.

Section 4. Effective date

This Act shall take effect immediately on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Peoples Regional Senate
Passed 5-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

House of Representatives
Passed the House of Representatives 5-0-1-3