Pennsylvania HB 2617: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in local organizations and services, further providing for general authority of political subdivisions.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3569
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2617
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, HARKINS, SANCHEZ, NEILSON, D. WILLIAMS AND
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, JUNE 9, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 9, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 22, 2014 (P.L.2611, No.165),
entitled "An act providing for the testing of new,
environmentally beneficial and energy-efficient technologies
within various State agencies," further providing for the
title of the act, for short title, for legislative intent,
for definitions and for authority of Secretary of General
Services.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The title and sections 1 and 2 of the act of
October 22, 2014 (P.L.2611, No.165), known as the State Agency
Green Technology Implementation Act, are amended to read:
AN ACT
Providing for the testing of new, environmentally beneficial
[and], energy-efficient and cost-reductive technologies
within various State agencies.
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the State Agency
Green [Technology] and Emerging Technologies Implementation Act.
Section 2. Legislative intent.
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The General Assembly finds as follows:
(1) It is the responsibility of the General Assembly to
ensure that the resources of this Commonwealth are used in a
manner consistent with energy efficiency and financial and
environmental stewardship.
(2) As technology advances, opportunities arise to test
new technologies within this Commonwealth's State agencies in
order to increase energy conservation, improve operational
efficiency, reduce costs and promote demand-side management.
(3) Through the testing of new, energy-efficient or
cost-reductive technologies, the Department of General
Services will gain the ability to identify new ways to reduce
costs and improve efficiency, creating an avenue for
implementation of all State agencies upon the recommendation
of the Secretary of General Services and the testing agency.
Section 2. The definition of "State agency" in section 3 of
the act is amended to read:
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:
* * *
"State agency." An executive agency, an independent agency,
a State-affiliated entity or a State-related institution as
defined by 62 Pa.C.S. § 103 (relating to definitions), including
the unified judicial system and its officers and agencies, that
for the purposes of this act will be testing a new technology,
product or process in order to determine its effectiveness in
promoting energy conservation, energy efficiency, State agency
operational efficiency or cost reduction or demand-side
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management, which new technology, product or process conforms to
the high-performance building standards adopted by the
Department of General Services under section 307(c) of the act
of July 9, 2008 (1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the
Alternative Energy Investment Act.
Section 3. Section 4(1) introductory paragraph and (i)
introductory paragraph, (4) introductory paragraph and (i), (5)
and (6) of the act are amended and paragraph (4) is amended by
adding a subparagraph to read:
Section 4. Authority of secretary.
The following shall apply:
(1) If, in the course of the secretary's official
duties, the secretary determines that the use of a certain
technology, product or process would promote energy
conservation, energy efficiency, State agency operational
efficiency or cost reduction or demand-side management, the
secretary may authorize a State agency to test the
technology, product or process by using it in the agency's
operations on a trial basis. The following shall apply:
(i) The purpose of a test program shall be to
validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the
technology, product or process in reducing energy usage
and costs [or], promoting demand-side management or
improving State agency operational efficiency. No agency
shall undertake testing of any technology, product or
process unless the business entity manufacturing or
marketing the technology, product or process demonstrates
that:
* * *
(4) The secretary may not authorize a State agency to
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test a technology, product or process unless the technology
or product being tested has been certified by an approved,
independent, nationally recognized testing or certification
program that the technology, product or process will produce
energy savings or State agency operational efficiencies at
the level it claims and under conditions similar to the test
to be conducted or the technology or product being tested has
been procured by a state governmen