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PRINTER'S NO. 1811
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1540
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SIEGEL, McNEILL, SANCHEZ, MADDEN, MALAGARI,
SCHLOSSBERG, PIELLI, GIRAL, KHAN, CERRATO, BURGOS, WAXMAN,
DOUGHERTY, BOROWSKI, NEILSON, DEASY, GREEN, GOUGHNOUR AND
SCHWEYER, JUNE 2, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JUNE 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, establishing the Buy America, Buy Union Grant
Program and the Buy America, Buy Union Grant Fund; and
imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic
Development.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 62 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 47
BUY AMERICA, BUY UNION GRANTS
Subchapter
A. Preliminary Provisions
B. Program
C. Fund
D. Miscellaneous Provisions
SUBCHAPTER A
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
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Sec.
4701. Scope of chapter.
4702. Definitions.
§ 4701. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the award of Buy America, Buy Union
grants.
§ 4702. 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:
"Authority." As defined in 53 Pa.C.S. § 5602 (relating to
definitions).
"Bus." As defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to
definitions).
"Business entity." A corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, business trust, association, estate, trust,
foundation or similar entity.
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Buy America, Buy Union Grant Fund established
under section 4721 (relating to establishment of fund).
"Labor organization." As follows:
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), as defined in
section 3(f) of the act of June 1, 1937 (P.L.1168, No.294),
known as the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act.
(2) The term does not include an organization in which
more than one-half of the employees of the organization are
owners, officers or executives of the organization.
"Passenger car." As defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102.
"Procure." As follows:
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(1) To acquire by purchase, lease or rent.
(2) The term does not include acquiring by lease or rent
if the term of the lease or rental is less than one month.
"Program." The Buy America, Buy Union Grant Program
established under section 4711 (relating to establishment of
program).
"School bus." As defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102.
"School vehicle." As defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102.
"Truck." As defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102.
"Union-made." Assembled, as part of the final step in the
manufacturing process to create a finished product, at a plant,
factory or other site of a business entity, which is:
(1) located in the United States; and
(2) operating under a bona fide collective bargaining
agreement negotiated by a bona fide labor organization.
"Vehicle." Any of the following:
(1) A bus.
(2) A passenger car.
(3) A school bus.
(4) A school vehicle.
(5) A truck.
SUBCHAPTER B
PROGRAM
Sec.
4711. Establishment of program.
4712. Operation of program.
4713. Application.
4714. Limitations.
4715. Determination.
§ 4711. Establishment of program.
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The Buy America, Buy Union Grant Program is established
within the department.
§ 4712. Operation of program.
The department shall implement and administer the program for
the purpose of providing grants in accordance with this chapter
to reimburse political subdivisions and authorities that procure
vehicles which are union-made.
§ 4713. Application.
(a) Form.--
(1) The department shall develop an application form for
political subdivisions and authorities to use to seek a grant
under the program.
(2) The application form under paragraph (1) may specify
the vehicles that would be eligible for a grant under the
program.
(3) The department shall post the application form under
paragraph (1) on the publicly accessible Internet website of
the department.
(b) Contents.--An applicant seeking a grant under the
program shall provide the following information to the
department:
(1) The name and contact information of the applicant.
(2) The amount of the grant requested.
(3) The number of vehicles which are union-made for
which a grant under the program is sought, including a
description of the vehicles.
(4) Evidence of procurement and union-made status.
(5) Any other information deemed necessary by the
department.
(c) Submittal.--The department shall prescribe the process
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to submit completed application forms for consideration,
including deadlines for submittal.
§ 4714. Limitations.
(a) Amount of grants.--The amount of a grant under the
program for an applicant shall be limited to not more than 20%
of the costs incurred by the applicant regarding the procurement
of the vehicles which are union-made.
(b) Distribution of grants.--Grants under the program shall
be disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis determined by
the department and until all money in the fund is exhausted.
§ 4715. Determination.
(a) Review.--The department shall review each completed
application for a grant under the program and shall determine
whether to award the grant.
(b) Notice.--The department shall provide notice of the
determination under subsection (a). The following shall apply
regarding the notice:
(1) If the department awards the grant, the department
shall include the amount of the grant and any conditions on
the use of the grant.
(2) If the department does not award the grant in whole
or in part, the department shall include the reasons for the
full or partial denial.
SUBCHAPTER C
FUND
Sec.
4721. Establishment of fund.
4722. Operation of fund.
4723. Funding source.
§ 4721. Establishment of fund.
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The Buy America, Buy Union Grant Fund is established in the
State Treasury to carry out the purposes of the program.
§ 4722. Operation of fund.
(a) Appropriation.--All money deposited into the fund and
interest and other earnings on the money in the fund are
appropriated to the department on a continuing basis to award
grants under the program.
(b) End of fiscal year.--Any money remaining in the fund at
the end of each fiscal year, including interest and other
earnings, shall not revert to the General Fund but shall remain
in the fund.
§ 4723. Funding source.
The department may accept funding for the program, including
money appropriated by the General Assembly, Federal money,
grants, donations, gifts and other payments from any source,
which shall be deposited into the fund.
SUBCHAPTER D
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec.
4731. Reports.
4732. Costs.
4733. Guidelines.
§ 4731. Reports.
(a) Annual reports required.--No later than September 1,
2026, and each September 1 thereafter, the department shall
issue an annual report detailing the operation of the program
and fund during the preceding year.
(b) Contents.--Each annual report under this section must
include the following:
(1) The number of applicants that sought a grant under
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the program, including the total amount of the grants sought
under the program.
(2) The number of applicants that received a grant under
the program, including the amount of the grant that each
applicant received under the program.
(3) The number of applicants that were denied, in whole
or in part, a grant under the program, including the reasons
for the full or partial denial.
(4) The money remaining in the fund.
(5) Any other information deemed necessary by the
department.
(c) Transmittal.--Each annual report under this section
shall be transmitted to the following:
(1) The Governor.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
(d) Posting.--The department shall post each annual report
under this section on the publicly accessible Internet website
of the department.
§ 4732. Costs.
The department shall use money appropriated by the General
Assembly for the purpose of implementing and administering the
program.
§ 4733. Guidelines.
The department shall develop and periodically review
guidelines necessary to implement and administer the provisions
of this chapter.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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