Wrapping up by the June 30 deadline with time to spare, the General Assembly sent the Governor all of the legislative pieces necessary for a balanced 2019-2020 state spending plan. This year included all possible “Code bills:”  Administrative Code, Fiscal Code, Human Services Code, Public School Code and Tax Code.  Below is a summary of this year’s Fiscal Code, S.B. 712, which passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of Y:125/N:74 and the Senate by a vote of Y:29/N:21.

  • Extends the Treasury Department’s authority to invest and reinvest funds through December 31, 2024.
  • Extends the Transportation Network Company/First Class City surcharge until December 31, 2020.
  • Transfers 100% of the General Fund surplus to the Rainy Day Fund.
  • Reauthorizes the State Workers’ Insurance Fund Board’s investment authority through June 30, 2021.
  • Provides $40M of funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority for water and sewer projects priced between $30,000 and $500,000.
  • Establishes procedures for debt service payments related to the securitization of future revenues from Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and makes transfers from Tobacco Settlement Fund for programs provided in the Tobacco Settlement Act.
  • Authorizes transfers from the Race Horse Development Fund to programs within the Department of Agriculture and the State Racing Fund.
  • Allows grant funding from the Natural Gas Infrastructure Development Fund to be used for large residential conversion projects, combined heat and power applications, and tapping projects and increases the maximum grant amount to $1.5M.
  • Provides for transfers from the Enhanced Revenue Collection account to the General Fund, from the Environmental Stewardship Fund to DCNR and from the Recycling Fund to DEP.
  • Requires that the Independent Fiscal Office and the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee conduct studies on the use of single-use plastics reusable plastics, auxiliary containers, wrappings or polystyrene, and preempts state and local ordinances banning their use until the study is conducted.
  • Provides for Category 4 slot machine license auctions.
  • Allows the Secretary of Human Services to transfer certain federal block grant funds to the child care services appropriation to serve additional children.
  • Extends the Multimodal Transportation Fund local match waiver for municipalities to December 31, 2020.
  • Disbands the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee as of July 1, 2021.
  • Provides for “budget implementation” for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.  Notable provisions include:
    • $300,000 for a broadband expansion pilot program in two local development districts in the North Central and North Western regions of the Commonwealth.
    • $300,000 for other pilot programs to rural and underserved areas.
    • $1.75M for  nonnarcotic medication substance use disorder treatment, which may include the establishment of a nonnarcotic medication assisted substance abuse treatment program.
    • Funding for programs, research or  awareness related to Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, Lyme disease, lupus, biotechnology, leukemia and lymphoma.
    • Provides funding for qualifying university-affiliated physician practice plans.
    • Provides a two percent rate increase in the fee-for-service rates for personal assistance services.
    • Provides for fund transfers for retirement system accounts, school safety and security, the environmental stewardship fund, and transfers to and from the CFA.