Pennsylvania HB 1560: An Act establishing the Municipal Grant Assistance Program and the Municipal Grant Assistance Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1844
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1560
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SALISBURY, KUZMA, McNEILL, MADDEN, VENKAT, DEASY,
SANCHEZ, SAPPEY, KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG, FREEMAN, BOROWSKI,
CERRATO, MALAGARI, BOYD, DAVIDSON, STEELE, GREEN AND INGLIS,
JUNE 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JUNE 5, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Municipal Grant Assistance Program and the
Municipal Grant Assistance Program Fund; and imposing duties
on the Department of Community and Economic Development.
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 Municipal
Grant Assistance Program Act.
Section 2. Declarations.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Many municipalities lack the expertise and resources
to effectively seek grants for which they may be qualified.
(2) This gap in expertise and resources creates a
disparity in the opportunity to pursue economic development
and community enhancement opportunities between those
municipalities obtaining State funds and those that may have
a greater need.
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(3) The availability of professional grant writers
increases the opportunities for a municipality to obtain
grant funding.
Section 3. 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:
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Eligible grant writer." An individual registered with the
Bureau of Charitable Organizations within the Department of
State under section 8 of the act of December 19, 1990 (P.L.1200,
No.202), known as the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable
Purposes Act.
"Fund." The Municipal Grant Assistance Program Fund
established under section 6.
"Low-income census tract." A census tract where:
(1) the poverty rate is at least 20%;
(2) for tracts not located within a metropolitan area,
the median family income does not exceed 80% of Statewide
median family income; or
(3) for tracts located within a metropolitan area, the
median family income does not exceed 80% of the greater of
Statewide median family income or the metropolitan area
median family income.
"Municipality." A city of the third class, borough,
incorporated town or township.
"Program." The Municipal Grant Assistance Program
established under section 4.
Section 4. Establishment.
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The Municipal Grant Assistance Program is established within
the department and shall be administered by the department. The
department may establish the program within existing
departmental municipal technical assistance programs in whole or
in part. The program shall consist of financial assistance to
municipalities to obtain grant writing services and to develop a
training program to teach municipal employees and officials how
to develop projects, find grant application opportunities and
apply for grants.
Section 5. Administration of program.
(a) Personnel.--The department may hire new personnel,
dedicate current personnel or contract with third parties for
the implementation and administration of the program.
(b) Guidelines.--The department shall, within 90 days of the
effective date of this section, develop and publish guidelines
for the implementation and administration of the program, which
shall include:
(1) a listing of eligible grant writers participating in
the program within this Commonwealth;
(2) application procedures and guidelines for
municipalities;
(3) the development and delivery of grant writing
training to commence within six months following the
effective date of this section;
(4) criteria for fund allocations and municipal matching
fund requirements;
(5) limitations on fund use; and
(6) disbursements from the fund.
(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant to obtain
grant-writing services, a municipality may not have an employee
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whose primary responsibility is grant writing. In addition, a
municipality must meet at least one of the following
qualifications:
(1) Adopted and is implementing an active Strategic
Management Planning Program plan, recovery plan, exit plan or
receivership plan adopted under the act of July 10, 1987
(P.L.246, No.47), known as the Municipalities Financial
Recovery Act.
(2) At least 25% of all census tracts within the
municipality are designated as low-income census tracts.
(d) Contracts.--A municipality or the department may enter
into a contract with an eligible grant writer for a single grant
or multiple grants. Grant writers shall be paid according to the
department's funding criteria under subsection (b)(4).
(e) Advisory committee.--The department may establish