HB 1609 — An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in Commonwealth budget procedures, providing for essential service payments during budget impasse.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. PN1924 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a process for funding essential services during a budget impasse in Pennsylvania.

• Section 626

  Essential Service Payments During Budget Impasse.--(a) If the General Appropriation Act is not enacted by July 1 of any fiscal year: (1) The Secretary of the Budget shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Human Services, the Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Secretary of Aging and the secretary of a department that provides other essential services, certify to the State Treasurer the line items and amounts paid for essential services and other essential services from each of their departments during the prior fiscal year and the amounts so certified are hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the respective departments for those purposes. (2) The Department of Human Services, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Department of Aging and any department that provides other essential services may submit requisitions to the State Treasurer for the payment of the essential services and other essential services to a human services organization, county or other intermediary organization from the appropriations made under paragraph (1), provided that the amount paid does not exceed the amount paid during the prior fiscal year.

  This new section creates a framework for ensuring that essential services continue to be funded in the event of a budget impasse.

• Section 626

  (b) The amount paid from the General Fund under subsection (a) between July 1 and the effective date of the General Appropriation Act for that fiscal year shall be credited against the corresponding appropriation in the General Appropriation Act for that fiscal year.

  This provision ensures that any payments made during a budget impasse are deducted from the appropriations finalized later in the General Appropriation Act.

• Section 626

  (c) An appropriation made under subsection (a) in any fiscal year shall immediately lapse when the General Appropriation Act for that fiscal year is enacted.

  This clause means that any temporary funding for services during an impasse will cease once the budget is passed.

• Section 626

  (d) The Secretary of the Budget and the State Treasurer shall expedite payments under this section consistent with their powers and duties in the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as 'The Fiscal Code.'

  This mandates expedited processing of payments for essential services during a budget impasse.

• Section 626

  (e) The Secretary of the Budget shall submit a report to the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives by June 15 of each year indicating any services that will be deemed essential by the Governor to protect public health and safety during a potential budget impasse.

  This requires an annual report on essential services to ensure legislative oversight and preparedness for budget impasses.

• Section 626

  (f) As used in this section, the term 'essential service' means any service for which payment was made during the previous fiscal year from Federal and State appropriations to the Department of Human Services, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Department of Aging for the following: (1) Domestic violence. (2) Mental health services, including grants to counties or other county-based human services included under the Human Services Block Grant, exclusive of capital improvements. (3) Behavioral health services or other county-based human services included under the Human Services Block Grant. (4) Intellectual Disabilities - Community Base Program, including grants to counties for noninstitutional programs or other county-based human services included under the Human Services Block Grant, exclusive of capital improvements. (5) Payments and services to counties for children and youth programs and for the care of delinquent and dependent children under section 704.1 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the 'Human Services Code.' The payments and services shall include an aggregate child welfare needs-based budget allocation that the Department of Human Services may use to fund contracts for adoption services and to pay for assistance to counties in meeting Federal reimbursement documentation requirements. (6) The Human Services Development Fund. (7) Medical assistance payments for outpatient services, exclusive of outpatient services provided through capitation plans. (8) Payments to counties for drug and alcohol addiction treatment services under section 2334. (9) Any other funds for which the county provides services on behalf of the Commonwealth.

  This defines the scope of 'essential services' for which funds can be made available during a budget impasse.

• Section 626

  (g) As used in this section, the term 'other essential services' means services for which payment was made during the previous fiscal year from Federal and State appropriations that the Governor deems essential during a budget impasse for public health and safety. The term does not include an essential service.

  This creates a broader category for other essential services that may be funded during a budget impasse.

Action History

1. June 16, 2025

   Referred to Appropriations

Sponsors

• Marla Brown · Primary
• Charity Grimm Krupa · Cosponsor
• Keith S. Harris · Cosponsor
• Nancy Guenst · Cosponsor
• Jill N. Cooper · Cosponsor
• Joe Emrick · Cosponsor
• Gary W. Day · Cosponsor
• Melissa L. Shusterman · Cosponsor
• Abigail Salisbury · Cosponsor

Subjects