Pennsylvania HB 1719: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for pardoning power and Board of Pardons.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2115
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1719
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY RUSNOCK, DAVIDSON, SANCHEZ, NEILSON, T. DAVIS,
KHAN, WARREN, GIRAL, D. WILLIAMS, GREEN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
CONKLIN, K.HARRIS AND INGLIS, JULY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, JULY 10, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in disaster emergency assistance,
further providing for legislative purpose, for definitions
and for construction, establishing the Individual Property
Disaster Assistance Fund, renaming the Public Disaster
Assistance Grant Program and providing for definitions
relating to Public Facilities Disaster Assistance Grant
Program; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency; making interfund transfers; and making
editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7902 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 7902. Legislative purpose.
It is the purpose of this chapter to [create a program to]
provide assistance to persons, political subdivisions and
municipal authorities directly affected by natural disasters and
man-made disasters. Assistance will be limited to grants for
projects that do not qualify for Federal assistance to help
repair damages to public facilities[. Grants will be made
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

available by the agency in a disaster emergency area only when a
Presidential disaster declaration is not covering the area.] and
individual properties.
Section 2. The definitions of "eligible loss" and "program"
in section 7903 of Title 35 are amended to read:
§ 7903. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Eligible loss." Damage to a public facility caused by a
natural disaster or man-made disaster in a disaster emergency
area.
* * *
["Program." The Public Disaster Assistance Grant Program
established under Subchapter B (relating to Public Disaster
Assistance Grant Program).]
* * *
Section 3. Section 7904 of Title 35 is amended to read:
§ 7904. Construction.
Grants and other payments shall be made to persons, political
subdivisions or municipal authorities in a disaster emergency
area for which no Presidential disaster declaration has been
issued.
Section 4. Chapter 79 of Title 35 is amended by adding a
subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER A.1
INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY DISASTER ASSISTANCE
Sec.
7911. Definitions.
20250HB1719PN2115 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

7912. Establishment of fund.
7913. General purpose of fund.
7914. Specific uses of fund money.
7915. Application process.
7916. Limitations.
7917. Administration.
7918. Fund sources.
7919. Operation of fund.
§ 7911. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Flood." As defined in section 104 of the act of October 4,
1978 (P.L.851, No.166), known as the Flood Plain Management Act.
"Flood plain." As defined in section 104 of the Flood Plain
Management Act.
"Fund." The Individual Property Disaster Assistance Fund
established under section 7912 (relating to establishment of
fund).
"Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town,
township, home rule municipality, optional plan municipality,
optional charter municipality or similar general purpose unit of
government of this Commonwealth that may be created or
authorized by statute.
§ 7912. Establishment of fund.
The Individual Property Disaster Assistance Fund is
established within the State Treasury as a restricted revenue
account for use by the agency in accordance with this
subchapter.
§ 7913. General purpose of fund.
20250HB1719PN2115 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Subject to section 7914 (relating to specific uses of fund
money), the agency shall use money in the fund to assist with
the following:
(1) A disaster emergency declared by executive order or
proclamation of the Governor in accordance with section
7301(c) (relating to general authority of Governor).
(2) A local disaster emergency declared by the governing
body of a political subdivision in accordance with section
7501(b) (relating to general authority of political
subdivisions).
§ 7914. Specific uses of fund money.
(a) Persons.--
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), money in the fund shall be
made available to any person affected by a disaster emergency
or local disaster emergency described in section 7913
(relating to general purpose of fund).
(2) In the case of a disaster emergency or local
disaster emergency described in section 7913 involving damage
to real property in this Commonwealth that is caused by a
flood:
(i) Money i