HB 2071 — An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Commonwealth employment; and establishing the Commonwealth Tax Accountability Program.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. 2912 View text Current pdf

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This bill establishes the Commonwealth Tax Accountability Program, which prohibits employment of individuals with delinquent tax payments in various branches of Pennsylvania government.

• Title 71

  PART IV COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYMENT Chapter 35. Commonwealth Tax Accountability Program

  Adds a new part and chapter to Title 71, creating a framework for the Commonwealth Tax Accountability Program.

• § 3501

  Definitions.

  Introduces a section defining key terms for the Commonwealth Tax Accountability Program.

• § 3502

  Program establishment.

  Creates the Commonwealth Tax Accountability Program to be administered by the Department of Revenue.

• § 3502(b)

  The program shall be utilized by executive agencies, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch and independent boards and commissions of the Commonwealth to determine whether an individual, grantee, entity or contractor is delinquent.

  Requires various government branches to utilize the program to check tax delinquency.

• § 3502(c)

  The department shall develop a searchable database of individuals, entities, grantees and contractors who are delinquent for use by executive agencies, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch and independent boards and commissions.

  Mandates the creation of a database of tax delinquents for government use.

• § 3502(c)(1)

  Individuals on the database under this subsection may not be employed by an executive agency, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch or an independent board or commission of the Commonwealth.

  Prohibits employment of individuals with delinquent payments in multiple government sectors.

• § 3503

  Prohibition of employment for individual with delinquent payment.

  Clarifies the prohibition on employing individuals who are delinquent in their tax payments.

• § 3503(a)

  No executive agency, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch or independent board or commission of the Commonwealth may award employment to an individual or employ an individual who is delinquent.

  Formalizes the employment prohibition for tax delinquents across all branches of government.

• § 3503(b)

  An executive agency, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch or an independent board or commission of the Commonwealth shall require an individual to submit an application: certifying the individual is not delinquent; and authorizing the department to disclose to the head of the executive agency whether the individual is delinquent.

  Establishes application requirements for individuals seeking employment regarding tax status.

• § 3503(e)

  Subject to the provisions of Part III (relating to civil service reform) or any other law to the contrary, current employees of an executive agency, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch or an independent board or commission of the Commonwealth shall fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) within 90 days of the effective date of this section.

  Imposes a compliance requirement for current employees regarding tax delinquency checks.

• § 3503(f)

  If the department notifies an executive agency, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch or an independent board or commission of the Commonwealth that an employee is delinquent and the employee fails to enter into a payment agreement with the department, the department shall garnish the employee's wages until the liability is paid off or the employee enters into a payment agreement.

  Allows for wage garnishment of employees who are delinquent in tax payments.

Action History

1. November 19, 2019

   PN 2912 Referred to APPROPRIATIONS

Sponsors

• Seth Grove · Primary
• Millard · Cosponsor
• Greg Rothman · Cosponsor
• Ryan · Cosponsor
• Aaron Bernstine · Cosponsor
• Barrar · Cosponsor
• Saylor · Cosponsor
• Dawn W. Keefer · Cosponsor

Subjects