HB 1145 — An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Public Transit Security Grant Program; establishing the Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Transportation.

PRINTER'S NO.   1266

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1145
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY HOHENSTEIN, KHAN, WAXMAN, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, GUENST,
        HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, BRENNAN, CIRESI, McANDREW, PARKER,
        HARKINS, DELLOSO, FREEMAN, GREEN, O'MARA, HADDOCK, RIVERA,
        SHUSTERMAN, KENYATTA, KINKEAD, MAYES AND MERSKI,
        APRIL 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 4, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for Public Transit Security
 3      Grant Program; establishing the Public Transit Security Grant
 4      Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of
 5      Transportation.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.      Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 9   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
10                                  CHAPTER 12
11                   PUBLIC TRANSIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM
12   Sec.
13   1201.   Definitions.
14   1202.   Grant program.
15   1203.   Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund.
16   1204.   Applications.
17   1205.   Award of program grants.
18   1206.   Reports.
 1   § 1201.    Definitions.
 2      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 3   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 4   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 5      "Department."      The Department of Transportation of the
 6   Commonwealth.
 7      "Eligible applicant."       Any of the following:
 8             (1)   The governing body of a municipality or an
 9      instrumentality of a municipality.
10             (2)   A Commonwealth agency or instrumentality.
11             (3)   A local or regional public transit authority.
12             (4)   An association representing public transit
13      providers.
14      "Fund."      The Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund
15   established under section 1203 (relating to Public Transit
16   Security Grant Program Fund).
17      "Municipality."      A county, city, borough, incorporated town
18   or township or home rule, optional plan or optional charter
19   municipality, any other general purpose unit of government
20   established by the General Assembly, a municipal authority and
21   any entity formed under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to
22   intergovernmental cooperation).
23      "Program."      The Public Transit Security Grant Program
24   established under section 1202 (relating to grant program).
25      "Program grant."       A grant awarded under the program.
26      "Safety committee."      As defined under 49 CFR 673.5 (relating
27   to definitions).
28   § 1202.    Grant program.
29      (a)    Establishment.--The Public Transit Security Grant
30   Program is established as a competitive grant program within the

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 1   department.
 2      (b)     Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to award grants
 3   to eligible applicants for the prevention, reduction or
 4   mitigation of the effects of crime relating to public transit
 5   operations or for the improvement of public transit employee
 6   safety.
 7      (c)     Administration.--The department shall administer the
 8   program.
 9      (d)     Public notice.--The department shall provide information
10   regarding the availability and award of program grant money on
11   the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
12   § 1203.    Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund.
13      (a)     Establishment.--The Public Transit Security Grant
14   Program Fund is established in the State Treasury.
15      (b)     Continuing appropriation.--The money in the fund is
16   appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for program
17   grants.
18   § 1204.    Applications.
19      (a)     Forms.--The department shall develop annual grant
20   application forms for an eligible applicant to apply for a
21   program grant. At a minimum, the forms shall contain the
22   following information:
23             (1)   The name, address and contact information of the
24      applicant.
25             (2)   The amount of program grant money requested.
26             (3)   The proposed use for the requested program grant
27      money.
28             (4)   If applicable, a detailed maintenance plan for any
29      equipment used or installed with the requested program grant
30      money.

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 1             (5)   If applicable, a written letter of support for the
 2      application from the safety committee.
 3             (6)   Other information that the department deems
 4      necessary and appropriate.
 5      (b)    Application period.--Beginning no later than 180 days
 6   after the effective date of this subsection, the department
 7   shall begin accepting and processing applications for program
 8   grants. For all subsequent years, the department shall establish
 9   an application period during which applications for program
10   grants are accepted.
11   § 1205.    Award of program grants.
12      (a)    Review.--After review of the information provided under
13   each applicant's submitted application form, the department
14   shall determine whether to award a program grant to the
15   applicant and, if so, the amount of the program grant.
16      (b)    Allocation.--The department shall determine the
17   allocation limit for program grants, which may not be in excess
18   of the amount in the fund.
19      (c)    Competitive nature of awards.--Program grants shall be
20   awarded on a competitive basis to eligible applicants. In
21   awarding program grants, the department shall:
22             (1)   Give preference to applicants whose program grant
23      proposals demonstrate the greatest likelihood of preventing,
24      reducing or mitigating the effects of crime relating to
25      public transit operations or of improving the safety of
26      public transit employees.
27             (2)   Consider the scope of a proposal and the applicant's
28      demonstrated need for additional resources to effectively
29      prevent or reduce crime relating to public transit operations
30      or improve the safety of public transit employees.

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 1             (3)   Give preference to applicants that demonstrate
 2      support and consent of associations representing the majority
 3      of public transit employees in the transit authority.
 4      (d)    Time periods.--
 5             (1)   The department shall approve or deny an application
 6      for a program grant no later than 60 days after the receipt
 7      of the application.
 8             (2)   If the department fails to approve or deny the
 9      application within 60 days after the receipt of the
10      application, the application shall be deemed denied.
11      (e)    Notice.--
12             (1)   The department shall provide written notice to the
13      applicant of the award or denial of the program grant.
14             (2)   The notice under paragraph (1) shall include:
15                   (i)    If awarded, the amount of the program grant and
16             any condition or restriction on the use of the program
17             grant money.
18                   (ii)    If denied in full or in part, the reason for
19             the full or partial denial.
20   § 1206.    Reports.
21      No less than once every three years, the department shall
22   prepare and submit a report to the General Assembly on the
23   administration of the program, including, but not limited to,
24   all of the following:
25             (1)   the total number of program grants awarded;
26             (2)   the name and address of each applicant that was
27      awarded a program grant; and
28             (3)   the use and the amount of each program grant
29      awarded.
30      Section 2.         This act shall take effect immediately.

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