Read the full stored bill text
PRINTER'S NO. 2201
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1791
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WAXMAN, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, K.HARRIS AND
KINKEAD, AUGUST 7, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 10, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Climate Emergency Basic Income Program and the
Emergency Stabilization Fund; and imposing duties on the
Department of Labor and Industry and the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Climate
Emergency Basic Income Act.
Section 2. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Climate-related disasters are increasing in
frequency, severity and impact on vulnerable communities.
(2) Many Pennsylvanians, including unhoused individuals,
face catastrophic losses from floods, fires, storms and other
emergencies but are excluded from existing forms of aid.
(3) State-declared disasters demand rapid, unconditional
financial relief to support recovery, stabilize lives and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
reduce long-term harm.
(4) The Climate Emergency Basic Income Program
established under this act will deliver essential income to
survivors of disaster in a dignified and equitable manner.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
"Catastrophic property loss." A total or near-total loss of
personal property, shelter or possessions essential to daily
life, regardless of ownership status, including:
(1) Destruction of a house, apartment, tent, vehicle or
encampment used for living.
(2) Loss of belongings such as identification, clothing,
medical devices, work tools or survival necessities.
(3) Eviction or displacement due to environmental
hazards or official evacuation orders.
"Department." The Department of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
"Group-based eligibility area." A defined location
designated by emergency responders or public authorities as
uninhabitable, destroyed or unsafe due to a qualifying disaster.
The term includes shelters, encampments, mobile home parks,
apartment buildings and neighborhoods.
"Program." The Climate Emergency Basic Income Program
established under section 4.
"Qualifying disaster." A disaster or emergency that results
in a formal declaration by the Governor involving floods,
storms, wildfires, extreme temperatures or other climate-related
20250HB1791PN2201 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
events.
"Serious injury." A physical injury caused directly by a
disaster that requires hospitalization or results in long-term
impairment.
"Unbanked individual." An individual who does not have
practical or consistent access to a functional bank account or
traditional financial services.
Section 4. Establishment.
The Climate Emergency Basic Income Program is established
within the department to provide benefits under this act.
Section 5. Eligibility.
(a) Requirements.--An individual shall be eligible for
program benefits if the individual:
(1) Resides in or regularly occupies a qualifying
disaster area at the time of the qualifying disaster.
(2) Experiences catastrophic property loss or serious
injury.
(b) Automatic eligibility.--An individual shall be
automatically eligible for the program if the individual lives
in or regularly occupies a group-based eligibility area at the
time of the qualifying disaster. Individual documentation of
ownership, lease or formal residency shall not be required.
(c) Limitation.--An individual shall not be deemed
ineligible for the program due to lack of government-issued
identification, permanent address or insurance status.
Section 6. Program benefits.
(a) Amount.--Each eligible adult shall receive $1,000 per
month for a maximum period of six months following a qualifying
disaster.
(b) Additional amount.--An additional $500 per month shall
20250HB1791PN2201 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
be provided for each dependent child under 18 years of age or
for a dependent adult with a disability.
(c) Payments.--Payments shall be made monthly via direct
deposit or prepaid debit card. The Commonwealth shall ensure
that accessible options are available for unbanked individuals.
Section 7. Administration.
(a) Joint administration.--The program shall be jointly
administered by:
(1) The agency, which shall:
(i) Identify qualifying disasters and affected
regions.
(ii) Designate group-based eligibility areas in
coordination with municipal governments, emergency
responders and service organizations.
(iii) Maintain a Statewide disaster eligibility
registry.
(2) The department, which shall:
(i) Manage application intake, verification and
benefit delivery.
(ii) Accept applications for the program for up to
60 days following the date of a disaster declaration.
(iii) Operate a multilingual online application
portal, call center and in-person access options.
(iv) Disburse payments and manage fraud prevention
and audit compliance in coordination with the State
Treasury.
(b) Outreach and enrollment support.--The agency and the
department may enter into agreements with local governments,
nonprofit organizations and emergency service providers to
conduct outreach, verify eligibility and assist individuals in
20250HB1791PN2201 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
applying for benefits.
(c) Joint guidance.--Within 30 days of the effective date of
this subsection, the agency and the department shall issue joint
operational guidance to ensure rapid deployment and clear
division of responsibilities.
Section 8. Emergency Stabilization Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Emergency Stabilization Fund is
established as a separate fund in the State Treasury. Money in
the fund is appropriated on a continuing basis to the department
for the program.
(b) Sources of money.--Money in the fund shall consist of:
(1) Appropriations from the General Assembly.
(2) Additional funding under subsection (c).
(c) Additional funding.--The agency and the department shall
coordinate to pursue Federal reimbursement, philanthropic
contributions and emergency block grants where applicable.
Section 9. Reporting.
Within one year of each qualifying disaster, the department
shall submit a report to the General Assembly that includes:
(1) The total number of individuals served by the
program.
(2) Aggregate disbursement amounts.
(3) Geographic and demographic breakdowns.
(4) Administrative costs and implementation timelines.
(5) Policy recommendations for future disasters.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1791PN2201 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27