Pennsylvania HB 1145: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Public Transit Security Grant Program; establishing the Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Transportation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1266
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1145
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HOHENSTEIN, KHAN, WAXMAN, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, GUENST,
HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, BRENNAN, CIRESI, McANDREW, PARKER,
HARKINS, DELLOSO, FREEMAN, GREEN, O'MARA, HADDOCK, RIVERA,
SHUSTERMAN, KENYATTA, KINKEAD, MAYES AND MERSKI,
APRIL 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for Public Transit Security
Grant Program; establishing the Public Transit Security Grant
Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of
Transportation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 12
PUBLIC TRANSIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.
1201. Definitions.
1202. Grant program.
1203. Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund.
1204. Applications.
1205. Award of program grants.
1206. Reports.
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§ 1201. 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:
"Department." The Department of Transportation of the
Commonwealth.
"Eligible applicant." Any of the following:
(1) The governing body of a municipality or an
instrumentality of a municipality.
(2) A Commonwealth agency or instrumentality.
(3) A local or regional public transit authority.
(4) An association representing public transit
providers.
"Fund." The Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund
established under section 1203 (relating to Public Transit
Security Grant Program Fund).
"Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town
or township or home rule, optional plan or optional charter
municipality, any other general purpose unit of government
established by the General Assembly, a municipal authority and
any entity formed under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to
intergovernmental cooperation).
"Program." The Public Transit Security Grant Program
established under section 1202 (relating to grant program).
"Program grant." A grant awarded under the program.
"Safety committee." As defined under 49 CFR 673.5 (relating
to definitions).
§ 1202. Grant program.
(a) Establishment.--The Public Transit Security Grant
Program is established as a competitive grant program within the
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department.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to award grants
to eligible applicants for the prevention, reduction or
mitigation of the effects of crime relating to public transit
operations or for the improvement of public transit employee
safety.
(c) Administration.--The department shall administer the
program.
(d) Public notice.--The department shall provide information
regarding the availability and award of program grant money on
the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
§ 1203. Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Public Transit Security Grant
Program Fund is established in the State Treasury.
(b) Continuing appropriation.--The money in the fund is
appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for program
grants.
§ 1204. Applications.
(a) Forms.--The department shall develop annual grant
application forms for an eligible applicant to apply for a
program grant. At a minimum, the forms shall contain the
following information:
(1) The name, address and contact information of the
applicant.
(2) The amount of program grant money requested.
(3) The proposed use for the requested program grant
money.
(4) If applicable, a detailed maintenance plan for any
equipment used or installed with the requested program grant
money.
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(5) If applicable, a written letter of support for the
application from the safety committee.
(6) Other information that the department deems
necessary and appropriate.
(b) Application period.--Beginning no later than 180 days
after the effective date of this subsection, the department
shall begin accepting and processing applications for program
grants. For all subsequent years, the department shall establish
an application period during which applications for program
grants are accepted.
§ 1205. Award of program grants.
(a) Review.--After review of the information provided under
each applicant's submitted application form, the department
shall determine whether to award a program grant to the
applicant and, if so, the amount of the program grant.
(b) Allocation.--The department shall determine the
allocation limit for program grants, which may not be in excess
of the amount in the fund.
(c) Competitive nature of awards.--Program grants shall be
awarded on a competitive basis to eligible applicant