Struck = removed from the bill ·
added = the amendment's new text.
PRIORH0328B0306A00288 PRINTER'SSFR:JMT 03/13/19 #90 A00288 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.
306328 PRINTER'SSponsor: NO.
952REPRESENTATIVE THEWARREN GENERALPrinter's ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
328306 2019Amend INTRODUCEDBill, BYpage WARREN,4, STRUZZI,line MURT,15, HILL-EVANS,by KORTZ,striking READSHAW,out DeLUCA,"and" GILLENAmend ANDBill, T.page 4, line 18, by striking out the period after "insurance" and inserting ;
DAVIS,(iv) FEBRUARYhow 1,to 2019educate ASresidents REPORTEDof FROMthis COMMITTEECommonwealth ONabout INSURANCE,the HOUSErisk OFof REPRESENTATIVES,flooding ASand AMENDED,ways MARCHto 18,mitigate 2019flood ANoccurrences; ACT Establishing the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force.
The(v) Generalsteps Assemblythat of the Commonwealth should take to inform residents of Pennsylvaniathis herebyCommonwealth enactsabout asthe follows:options available to them when purchasing flood insurance;
Sectionand 1.(vi) how to increase the number of people that purchase flood insurance, either through the National Flood Insurance Program or the private flood insurance market.
Short2019/90SFR/HB0328A00288 title.- 1 -
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force Act.
Section 2.
Findings.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Many communities within this Commonwealth have faced devastating floods in recent years.
(2) The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-141, 126 Stat.
916), which amended the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-448, 42 U.S.C.
§§ 2414(e) and 4001 et seq.), has caused steep increases in flood insurance premiums to pay for increased spending in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) flood disaster assistance program.
(3) In the past several years, FEMA has revised its flood mapping to include many properties that previously did not require flood insurance.
(4) Whole communities along Pennsylvania's rivers and creeks could be devastated by plummeting property values due to unaffordable flood insurance premiums.
Section 3.
Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force.
(a) Establishment.--The Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force is established.
(b) Membership.--The task force shall consist of the following members, appointed within 25 days after the effective date of this section:
(1) One member appointed by the Governor, who shall serve as the chair of the task force.
(2) One member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(3) One member appointed by the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
(4) One member appointed by the Insurance Commissioner.
(5) One member appointed by the Secretary of Banking and Securities.
(6) One member appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.
(7) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(8) One member appointed by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(9) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(c) Conducting of business.--The task force shall conduct its business as follows:
20190HB0328PN0952 - 2 - (1) The physical presence of a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum of the task force.
(2) Action of the task force must be authorized or ratified by a majority vote of its members.
(3) A member not physically present may participate by teleconference or video conference.
(i) The first meeting shall be convened within 45 days of the effective date of this section.
Additional meetings may be called by the chair as necessary.
(ii) The chair shall schedule a meeting upon written request of a two-thirds majority of the members of the task force.
(iii) The task force shall hold public hearings as necessary to obtain the information required to conduct its review.
(iv) The Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Insurance Department shall cooperate to provide administrative or other assistance to the task force.
(v) Members may not receive compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in service of the task force.
(d) Powers and duties.--The task force shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To review and analyze the law, procedures, practices, processes and rules relating to the administration of flood insurance.
(2) To hold public hearings for the taking of testimony and the requesting of documents.
20190HB0328PN0952 - 3 - (3) Through its chair, to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the task force.
(4) To accept and review written comments from individuals and organizations.
(5) To make, by no later than six months after the effective date of this act, a final report to the Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In addition to any information that the task force deems appropriate, the report shall include recommendations regarding:
(i) potential programs that provide premium discounts;
(ii) potential programs, whether through the mechanism of premium discounts or other relief, that create incentives for local governments to undertake or continue flood mitigation efforts;
and <-- (iii) the implementation of necessary changes in State statutes and practices, policies and procedures relating to the administration of flood insurance.;
<-- (IV) HOW TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH ABOUT THE RISK OF FLOODING AND WAYS TO MITIGATE FLOOD OCCURRENCES;
(V) STEPS THAT THE COMMONWEALTH SHOULD TAKE TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH ABOUT THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN PURCHASING FLOOD INSURANCE;
AND (VI) HOW TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE, EITHER THROUGH THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM OR THE PRIVATE FLOOD INSURANCE MARKET.
(e) Report.--The report made under this act shall be:
(1) Adopted at a public meeting.
20190HB0328PN0952 - 4 - (2) A public record under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.
(f) Expiration.--The task force shall expire 30 days after making the final report to the Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives under subsection (d)(5).
Section 4.
Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20190HB0328PN0952 - 5 -