HB 489 — An Act establishing the Public Arts Grant Program and the Public Arts Fund; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development; and making a transfer.

PRINTER'S NO.   478

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        HOUSE BILL
                        No. 489
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WAXMAN, SANCHEZ, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN,
        HARKINS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, POWELL, BELLMON, OTTEN AND GREEN,
        FEBRUARY 5, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
        DEVELOPMENT, FEBRUARY 5, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Establishing the Public Arts Grant Program and the Public Arts
 2      Fund; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department
 3      of Community and Economic Development; and making a transfer.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.   Short title.
 7      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Public Arts
 8   Grant Program Act.
 9   Section 2.   Definitions.
10      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12   context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Community organization."     A nonprofit organization that
14   partners with artists who reside in this Commonwealth with an
15   established goal and purpose to improve their community.
16      "Department."     The Department of Community and Economic
17   Development of the Commonwealth.
 1      "Fund."     The Public Arts Fund established under section 4.
 2      "Program."     The Public Arts Grant Program established under
 3   section 3.
 4   Section 3.     Public Arts Grant Program.
 5      (a)   Establishment.--The Public Arts Grant Program is
 6   established within the department.
 7      (b)   Powers and duties of department.--The department shall
 8   provide grants under the program in accordance with this act to
 9   community organizations and artists for the creation of public
10   art that is free and accessible to the public and depicts or
11   benefits historically marginalized communities.
12   Section 4.     Public Arts Fund.
13      (a)   Establishment.--The Public Arts Fund is established in
14   the State Treasury.
15      (b)   Continuing appropriation.--Money in the fund is
16   appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for
17   purposes of the program.
18   Section 5.     Applications.
19      (a)   Development and availability.--The department shall
20   develop grant application forms and make the forms available on
21   the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
22      (b)   Contents of form.--At a minimum, the grant application
23   form shall contain the following information:
24            (1)   The name, address and contact information of the
25      community organization or artist.
26            (2)   The amount of grant money requested.
27            (3)   A detailed description of the proposed public art
28      installation, including murals, sculptures, statues and
29      temporary public art installations.
30            (4)   An explanation of how the proposed public art

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 1      installation will be free to the public and how the public
 2      will be able to access the proposed public art installation
 3      produced with the grant money.
 4            (5)   Proof of any permit required by a municipality or
 5      permission or permit from another government entity,
 6      including a school district or political subdivision.
 7            (6)   A timeline of the proposed public art installation,
 8      including a proposed completion date.
 9            (7)   Other information the department deems necessary and
10      appropriate.
11      (c)   Compliance.--The department shall determine whether a
12   grant application complies with all requirements under section 6
13   and provide the determination in writing to the person that
14   submitted the application.
15   Section 6.     Requirements.
16      (a)   Duties of department.--The department shall:
17            (1)   Award grants to eligible community organizations and
18      artists that have been approved by the department.
19            (2)   Award grants only to community organizations'
20      headquarters in this Commonwealth.
21      (b)   Time period for completion.--
22            (1)   The community organization or artist that is awarded
23      a grant shall complete the public art installations within
24      three years of the award of the grant.
25            (2)   If a proposed public art installation is not
26      completed within three years, the department may take action
27      to recover the awarded grant.
28            (3)   The department may grant a one-year extension to a
29      proposed art installation if the project experienced delays
30      not the fault of the community organization or artist.

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 1   Section 7.    Administration.
 2      The department shall develop guidelines for the
 3   implementation of the program.
 4   Section 8.    Award of grants.
 5      A grant amount may not exceed a maximum of $100,000 for the
 6   community organization or artist approved by the department.
 7   Section 9.    Interfund transfer.
 8      Within 60 days of the effective date of this section, the sum
 9   of $10,000,000 shall be transferred from the General Fund to the
10   Public Arts Fund.
11   Section 10.   Effective date.
12      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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