An Act amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further providing for community recreation and heritage conservation.

PRINTER'S NO. 851
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 824
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KHAN, FLICK, CERRATO, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS,
WAXMAN, MADDEN, MAYES, McNEILL, SANCHEZ, KENYATTA, D. MILLER,
HOHENSTEIN, MALAGARI, PASHINSKI, PROBST, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
BOROWSKI, BRENNAN, DOUGHERTY AND RIVERA, MARCH 6, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 6, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), entitled "An
act creating the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources consisting of certain functions of the Department
of Environmental Resources and the Department of Community
Affairs; renaming the Department of Environmental Resources
as the Department of Environmental Protection; defining the
role of the Environmental Quality Board in the Department of
Environmental Protection; making changes to responsibilities
of the State Conservation Commission and the Department of
Agriculture; transferring certain powers and duties to the
Department of Health; and repealing inconsistent acts," in
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further
providing for community recreation and heritage conservation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 306 of the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89,
No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, is
amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 306. Community recreation and heritage conservation.
* * *
(a.1) Grant priority.--In considering applications for
grants under this act specifically related to playgrounds,
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playground equipment and associated recreation areas , the
department shall give priority to projects that correct
accessibility deficiencies for individuals with a disability,
including accessible playground equipment, such as ramped,
ground-level play features, accessible swings, wheelchair
accessible tables, adjustable equipment, universally accessible
swings, transfer platforms, sensory play equipment and
adaptations for blind and visually impaired individuals. The
department shall prioritize projects that create a recreation
area universally designed to meet the needs of all individuals
and where all equipment, and the recreation area itself, is
accessible for individuals with a disability over projects that
would create a recreation area where only some equipment, or
only the recreation area itself, is accessible for individuals
with a disability.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0824PN0851 - 2 -
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