Bill
Bill > HB1609
PA HB1609
PA HB1609In Commonwealth budget procedures, providing for essential service payments during budget impasse.
summary
Introduced
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
In Committee
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the Executive Department thereof and the administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof, including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative officers, and of the several administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards, and commissions; providing for the regulation of pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse racing and harness horse racing activities, imposing certain taxes and providing for the disposition of funds from pari-mutuel tickets; and prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and commissions shall be determined," in Commonwealth budget procedures, providing for essential service payments during budget impasse.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Administrative Code of 1929 to establish a mechanism for continuing essential government services during a budget impasse. Specifically, if the General Appropriation Act is not enacted by July 1 of a fiscal year, the Secretary of the Budget can certify and authorize payments for essential services based on the previous fiscal year's spending levels. Essential services are comprehensively defined to include critical human services like mental health programs, child welfare, domestic violence support, medical assistance, drug and alcohol treatment, and other county-based human services. The bill requires the Secretary of the Budget to submit a report by June 15 each year outlining services deemed essential for protecting public health and safety. Payments made during the budget impasse will be credited against the corresponding appropriations once the General Appropriation Act is eventually passed, and these temporary appropriations will automatically lapse when the full budget is enacted. The goal is to ensure that vital social services continue uninterrupted even if there are delays in finalizing the state's annual budget, thereby protecting vulnerable populations and maintaining critical government support systems.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (9)
Marla Gallo Brown (R)*,
Jill Cooper (R),
Gary Day (R),
Joe Emrick (R),
Charity Grimm Krupa (R),
Nancy Guenst (D),
Keith Harris (D),
Abigail Salisbury (D),
Melissa Shusterman (D),
Last Action
Referred to Appropriations (on 06/16/2025)
Bill Topics
Government Operations
- ‐ Executive Branch Operations
Macroeconomics
- ‐ National Budget and Debt
Social Welfare
- ‐ General Social Welfare
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1609 | 06/13/2025 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2025&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1609&pn=1924 | 06/16/2025 |
Loading...