Pennsylvania HB 2053: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Pennsylvania Census Commission; and imposing duties on the Joint State Government Commission.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2631
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2053
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GROVE, NOVEMBER 19, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, NOVEMBER 19, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Pennsylvania Census
Commission; and imposing duties on the Joint State Government
Commission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 71 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 43
PENNSYLVANIA CENSUS COMMISSION
Sec.
4301. Definitions.
4302. Pennsylvania Census Commission.
4303. Report on census activities.
§ 4301. 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:
"Commission." The Pennsylvania Census Commission established
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under section 4302 (relating to Pennsylvania Census Commission).
§ 4302. Pennsylvania Census Commission.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Census Commission is
established within the Joint State Government Commission.
(b) Membership.--The commission shall be composed of the
following members:
(1) The Governor or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Agriculture or a designee.
(3) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development
or a designee.
(4) The Secretary of Corrections or a designee.
(5) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(6) The Secretary of Labor and Industry or a designee.
(7) The President pro tempore of the Senate or a
designee.
(8) The Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee.
(9) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a
designee.
(10) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
or a designee.
(11) Eleven other members appointed by the Governor and
confirmed by the Senate which shall include members who:
(i) Represent a rural community.
(ii) Represent an urban community.
(iii) Represent a suburban community.
(iv) Represent the following regions of this
Commonwealth:
(A) The northeastern region.
(B) The northwestern region.
(C) The southcentral region.
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(D) The southeastern region.
(E) The southwestern region.
(c) Duties.--The commission shall have the following duties:
(1) Advise the Governor and the General Assembly on
census activities within the Commonwealth.
(2) Identify barriers that might impede the progress of
future Federal decennial censuses in this Commonwealth.
(3) Promote and advertise future Federal decennial
censuses.
(4) Respond to residents' questions and concerns about a
census.
(5) Develop partnerships with regional and local
Complete Count Committees to increase participation in the
census.
(6) Distribute and share census information with
traditionally hard-to-count areas and populations.
(7) Seek to ensure the highest census participation rate
possible.
(8) Gather information and produce reports under section
4303 (relating to report on census activities).
(d) Quorum.--A majority of appointed members shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.
(e) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The members shall
select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the
membership of the commission.
(f) Transparency and ethics.--The commission shall be
subject to the following laws:
(1) The act of July 19, 1957 (P.L.1017, No.451), known
as the State Adverse Interest Act.
(2) The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as
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the Right-to-Know Law.
(3) 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
(g) Information gathering.--The commission shall use data
from the Pennsylvania State Data Center and may conduct hearings
and otherwise gather additional relevant information and
analysis that the commission considers appropriate and
necessary.
(h) Reimbursement.--Members of the commission shall be
reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
§ 4303. Report on census activities.
(a) Annual report.--The commission shall gather and issue an
annual report on the commission's findings by December 1, 2025,
and each December 1 thereafter.
(b) Additional reports.--In addition to the commission's
annual report, the commission shall gather and issue the
following reports:
(1) Previous Federal decennial census activities and
results by January 1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter
that begins 48 months prior to the start of a future Federal
decennial census year.
(2) A preliminary plan for a future Federal decennial
census by January 1, 2027, and each January 1 thereafter that
begins 36 months prior to the start of a future Federal
decennial census year.
(3) A final plan for a future Federal decennial census
by July 1, 2027, and each July 1 thereafter that begins 36
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