Pennsylvania HB 272: An Act requiring certain establishments to train staff on the Heimlich maneuver techniques and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 216
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 272
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, FIEDLER, O'MARA, TAKAC, GIRAL, SANCHEZ,
GUENST, HILL-EVANS, SAPPEY, PIELLI, HOHENSTEIN, CIRESI,
HARKINS, SHUSTERMAN, VITALI, KRAJEWSKI, FREEMAN, OTTEN,
KENYATTA, HADDOCK, NEILSON, CERRATO, VENKAT, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
PROBST AND KHAN, JANUARY 22, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, JANUARY 22, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Municipal and Emergency Responder Solar Grant
Program; and providing for powers and duties of the
Department of Environmental Protection.
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 and
Emergency Responder Solar 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:
"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
the Commonwealth.
"Eligible applicant." Any of the following:
(1) A political subdivision.
(2) A local authority.
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"Eligible facility." A political subdivision or emergency
service facility eligible to receive money under this act.
"Eligible project costs." The term includes costs related to
the purchase and installation of equipment, including prepayment
in whole or in part of a solar lease or power purchase
agreement, permit fees, energy storage, utility interconnection
and any other costs approved by the department.
"Emergency service facility." A building and surrounding
premises owned by an eligible applicant, a fire department,
police department or ambulance service company.
"Inflation Reduction Act." The Inflation Reduction Act of
2022 (Public Law 117-169, 136 Stat. 1818).
"Political subdivision." A county, city, borough,
incorporated town or township.
"Program." The Municipal and Emergency Responder Solar Grant
Program established under section 3.
"Solar energy project." A project at an eligible facility
related to photovoltaic or solar thermal devices that convert,
transfer or store solar energy in or into usable forms of
thermal or electric energy.
"Solar facility site assessment." An evaluation of a
possible location to ascertain whether it is safe and cost-
effective for installing a solar energy project.
Section 3. Municipal and Emergency Responder Solar Grant
Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Municipal and Emergency Responder
Solar Grant Program is established and shall be administered by
the department. The program shall award grants to eligible
applicants on a competitive basis to the extent that money is
appropriated for this purpose.
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(b) Use of grants.--A grant awarded under this act shall be
used by the eligible applicant for eligible project costs
related to a solar energy project.
(c) Duties of department.--The department shall have the
following powers and duties:
(1) To establish guidelines necessary to implement this
act.
(2) To establish the process through which eligible
applicants may apply for grant money under the program.
(3) To develop the minimum information to be included in
a solar facility site assessment.
(4) To provide technical assistance to an eligible
applicant or other entity represented by an eligible
applicant as appropriate, including conducting a solar
facility site assessment.
(5) To develop educational materials about using,
purchasing, financing and maintaining solar energy projects.
(6) To provide information related to funding
opportunities through the Inflation Reduction Act.
(7) To enter into agreements with third-party entities
if necessary, including the Department of Community and
Economic Development, to carry out this act, including
reviewing applications, and providing technical assistance
and conducting solar facility site assessments.
(d) Application.--An eligible applicant shall submit an
application on a form and in a manner as determined by the
department in accordance with the following:
(1) The application shall include the result of a solar
facility site assessment conducted by a qualified solar
installer.
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(2) The application shall include an affidavit to ensure
that a contractor or subcontractor performing construction,
reconstruction, demolition or repair on a solar energy
project funded under this act meets all of the following
requirements:
(i) Maintains all valid licenses, registrations or
certificates required by the Federal Government, the
Commonwealth or a local government entity that is
necessary to do business or perform applicable work.
(ii) Maintains compliance with the act of June 2,
1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers'
Compensation Act, the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd
Sp.Sess., 1