Bill > HB2053

This bill establishes the Pennsylvania Census Commission within the Joint State Government Commission, creating a comprehensive body to support and improve census participation in the state. The commission will be composed of 21 members, including state agency heads, legislative leaders, and 11 additional members appointed by the Governor to represent various geographic and community perspectives. The commission's primary duties include advising the Governor and General Assembly on census activities, identifying potential barriers to census participation, promoting future federal decennial censuses, responding to resident questions, developing partnerships with local Complete Count Committees, and targeting outreach to traditionally hard-to-count populations. The commission will be required to produce multiple detailed reports, including an annual report by December 1st each year, and specific reports about census activities, planning, implementation, and funding recommendations at various intervals before each federal decennial census. These reports will be submitted to key legislative committee chairs and made publicly available online. Commission members will be reimbursed for expenses and must adhere to state transparency and ethics laws, and the commission will use data from the Pennsylvania State Data Center to inform its work. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Government Affairs

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2053