PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2141 PRINTER'S NO. 3199
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1630
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY SMITH-WADE-EL, HOHENSTEIN, INNAMORATO, MADDEN,
HILL-EVANS, HANBIDGE, RABB, BELLMON, SCHLOSSBERG, BULLOCK,
SANCHEZ, MERSKI, KAZEEM, KINSEY, VENKAT, STEELE, BOYD, KHAN,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, PARKER, KRAJEWSKI, PIELLI, CIRESI, SCHWEYER,
BURGOS, STURLA, KIM, FIEDLER, GREEN, OTTEN, WAXMAN, BENHAM
AND ISAACSON, OCTOBER 16, 2023
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 3, 2024
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Office of New Pennsylvanians and providing for
2 its powers and duties; ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF NEW <--
3 PENNSYLVANIANS RESTRICTED ACCOUNT; and establishing the
4 Advisory Committee to Office of New Pennsylvanians and
5 providing for its powers, duties and membership.
6 TABLE OF CONTENTS
7 Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
8 Section 101. Short title.
9 Section 102. Legislative policy and declarations.
10 Section 103. Definitions.
11 Chapter 3. Office of New Pennsylvanians
12 Section 301. Establishment of office.
13 Section 302. Powers and duties of office.
14 SECTION 303. OFFICE OF NEW PENNSYLVANIANS RESTRICTED ACCOUNT. <--
15 Chapter 5. Advisory Committee to Office of New Pennsylvanians
16 Section 501. Establishment of advisory committee.
17 Section 502. Membership.
 1 Section 503. Powers and duties of advisory committee.
2 Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Provisions
3 SECTION 701. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER STATUTES. <--
4 Section 701 702. Effective date. <--
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 CHAPTER 1
8 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
9 Section 101. Short title.
10 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Office of New
11 Pennsylvanians Act.
12 Section 102. Legislative policy and declarations.
13 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
14 (1) According to the United States Census Bureau, in
15 2018, Pennsylvania ranked 42nd among the 50 states in
16 population growth since 2010, increasing only 0.86%.
17 (2) In 2019, Pennsylvania's 893,167 foreign-born
18 individuals comprised 7% of this Commonwealth's population,
19 an increase of 75.7% since 2000, compared to only 1.2% growth
20 in the United-States-born population.
21 (3) Throughout this Commonwealth's history, immigrants
22 have played a critical role in this Commonwealth's economic,
23 cultural and political growth and success.
24 (4) Policies that promote the attraction, retention and
25 inclusion of immigrants and refugees will help enhance this
26 Commonwealth's economy and diversity, thereby improving the
27 lives of all residents and helping to remove barriers that
28 may undermine immigrants' full potential.
29 (5) Immigrants currently fill skilled positions
30 throughout this Commonwealth's economy and are a vital part
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 1 of this Commonwealth's economy and tax base. In 2019,
2 immigrant business owners in this Commonwealth generated more
3 than $1,700,000,000 in business revenue and immigrant
4 spending power increased to $24,900,000,000.
5 (6) 40% of immigrants in this Commonwealth have a
6 bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or graduate degree,
7 compared to 32% of United-States-born Pennsylvanians.
8 (7) Organizations are providing leadership in this
9 Commonwealth's immigrant integration efforts through programs
10 and services that connect newcomers and longtime
11 Pennsylvanians to economic opportunity.
12 (8) It is essential for this Commonwealth's future that
13 skilled, energetic and entrepreneurial immigrants are
14 attracted, retained and integrated. Immigrants help to
15 bolster this Commonwealth's economy and strengthen the
16 social, civic and cultural fabric.
17 (9) States enforce and provide for many services,
18 licenses and educational and economic opportunities that make
19 it imperative to coordinate the work of state agencies,
20 leverage relationships with partner and nonprofit
21 organizations, and recommend policies and programs that
22 support immigrant inclusion. Immigrants on the path to full
23 civic and economic participation benefit from a welcoming
24 environment and policies that:
25 (i) Increase access to English language instruction
26 and workforce development and employment.
27 (ii) Reduce exploitation and fraud against
28 immigrants.
29 (iii) Connect new Pennsylvanians to legal services
30 and assist on the path to naturalization.
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 1 (iv) Provide individuals with meaningful access to
2 Commonwealth resources and opportunities regardless of
3 English proficiency.
4 (10) In recognition of these facts and in promotion of
5 the stated goals, the creation of the Office of New
6 Pennsylvanians will help improve the lives and economic
7 prosperity of immigrants and Pennsylvanians generally.
8 Section 103. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Advisory committee." The Advisory Committee to Office of
13 New Pennsylvanians.
14 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
15 Development of the Commonwealth.
16 "Office." The Office of New Pennsylvanians.
17 "Secretary." The Secretary of Community and Economic
18 Development of the Commonwealth.
19 CHAPTER 3
20 OFFICE OF NEW PENNSYLVANIANS
21 Section 301. Establishment of office.
22 (A) ESTABLISHMENT.--The Office of New Pennsylvanians is <--
23 established within the department.
24 (B) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND STAFF.-- <--
25 (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
26 AND STAFF, INCLUDING COUNSEL AND LEGAL STAFF, TO THE OFFICE
27 AND TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
28 (2) THE OFFICE SHALL REIMBURSE THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE
29 COST AND EXPENSES OF PROVIDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
30 AND STAFF UNDER PARAGRAPH (1). NO MORE THAN 5% OF THE FUNDING
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 1 APPROPRIATED ANNUALLY TO THE OFFICE SHALL BE USED FOR
2 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND EXPENSES.
3 Section 302. Powers and duties of office.
4 The office shall:
5 (1) Respond to inquiries from Commonwealth agencies, the
6 media, immigrant-serving organizations and the public about
7 immigration issues in this Commonwealth.
8 (2) Serve as point of contact for Commonwealth licensing
9 boards and the Bureau of Professional and Occupational
10 Affairs.
11 (3) Serve as an information clearinghouse for
12 Commonwealth agencies on immigration-related policy issues
13 and coordinate among agencies as appropriate.
14 (4) Analyze economic, demographic and other trends
15 impacting immigrants in this Commonwealth and make policy
16 recommendations.
17 (5) Ensure that the Commonwealth is gathering relevant
18 data to inform the Commonwealth's policy making on immigrant
19 issues.
20 (6) Develop strategies to attract, retain and integrate
21 immigrants into this Commonwealth.
22 (7) Convene stakeholders in business development and
23 international trade promotion programs to increase capacity
24 to utilize immigrant contributors.
25 (8) Disseminate information to new and prospective
26 immigrant residents of this Commonwealth who wish to invest
27 capital, launch businesses or apply their skills in this
28 Commonwealth.
29 (9) Convene municipal officials to boost peer learning
30 on increasing immigration in cities of the third class
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 1 struggling with population loss and economic decline.
2 (10) Convene college and university officials to foster
3 learning on strategies for immigrant and international
4 student retention.
5 (11) Provide matching grant funds for high-quality
6 immigration and economic development programs that can
7 demonstrate corporate or philanthropic investment.
8 (12) Disseminate information about available services to
9 assist new and prospective immigrant residents of this
10 Commonwealth on the path to naturalization.
11 (13) Disseminate information about legal services
12 available to new Pennsylvanians in civil legal matters,
13 including housing, family, immigration and other matters.
14 (14) Disseminate information about English language
15 instruction and resources available to immigrant residents of
16 this Commonwealth.
17 (15) Convene stakeholders in Commonwealth agencies,
18 immigrant-serving organizations and the public to identify
19 and reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants.
20 (16) Convene stakeholders in Commonwealth agencies,
21 immigrant-serving organizations and the public to promote
22 race, sex, gender, age, income and LGBTQ equity and to
23 identify and reduce inequities.
24 (17) Develop strategies to provide immigrants with
25 meaningful access to Commonwealth resources and opportunities
26 regardless of their level of English proficiency.
27 (18) Communicate with Federal and international <--
28 stakeholders to support the resettlement process for refugees
29 who have been identified for resettlement in this
30 Commonwealth.
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 1 (19) (18) Evaluate the success of activities and adjust <--
2 courses as appropriate.
3 SECTION 303. OFFICE OF NEW PENNSYLVANIANS RESTRICTED ACCOUNT. <--
4 THE OFFICE OF NEW PENNSYLVANIANS RESTRICTED ACCOUNT IS
5 ESTABLISHED AS A RESTRICTED ACCOUNT IN THE GENERAL FUND. MONEY
6 APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE OFFICE SHALL BE
7 DEPOSITED IN THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNT FOR USE BY THE OFFICE TO
8 CARRY OUT ITS POWERS AND DUTIES UNDER SECTION 302.
9 CHAPTER 5
10 ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO
11 OFFICE OF NEW PENNSYLVANIANS
12 Section 501. Establishment of advisory committee.
13 The Advisory Committee to Office of New Pennsylvanians is
14 established within the office and shall serve in an advisory
15 capacity to the office in matters regarding immigrants in this
16 Commonwealth. The advisory committee shall be staffed and
17 administered by the office.
18 Section 502. Membership.
19 (a) Public official members.--The advisory committee shall
20 consist of the following members, who shall serve by virtue of
21 their public position:
22 (1) The secretary or a designee.
23 (2) The Secretary of Administration or a designee.
24 (3) The Secretary of Education or a designee.
25 (4) The Secretary of Health or a designee.
26 (5) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
27 (6) The Secretary of Labor and Industry or a designee.
28 (7) The Secretary of Transportation or a designee.
29 (8) The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police or a
30 designee.
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 1 (9) The Attorney General or a designee from the Office
2 of the Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection.
3 (b) Nongovernmental members.--The advisory committee shall
4 consist of nongovernmental members to be appointed by the
5 Governor as follows:
6 (1) Three members from an organization that attracts,
7 retains and integrates immigrants into this Commonwealth's
8 economic, cultural and civic affairs. The advisory committee
9 shall establish a minimum of three regions within this
10 Commonwealth for the purpose of appointing one member from
11 each region.
12 (2) One member from a Pennsylvania chapter of the
13 American Immigration Lawyers Association.
14 (3) One member from an institution of higher education
15 who has a primary focus on immigration issues.
16 (4) One member from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business
17 and Industry or a similar local advocate for economic
18 improvement.
19 (5) One member with expertise in promoting language
20 access plans.
21 (6) One member from an agency focused on providing
22 English language instruction to speakers of other languages.
23 (7) One member from the Pennsylvania banking sector.
24 (8) One member from a workforce training agency.
25 (9) One member from the health care sector.
26 (10) One member from an agency working to increase
27 immigrants' access to health care services.
28 (11) One member from a human services agency.
29 (12) One member from a refugee resettlement agency. <--
30 (13) (12) One member from an agency focused on working <--
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 1 with immigrants in matters of tenants' rights.
2 (13) ONE MEMBER FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS' <--
3 ASSOCIATION.
4 (c) Voting.--
5 (1) All members appointed shall hold voting privileges
6 on all matters brought for consideration before the advisory
7 committee.
8 (2) A simple majority of members with current
9 appointments to the advisory committee shall constitute a
10 quorum for the transaction of any business. An action adopted
11 by the majority of the members present at a meeting in which
12 there is a quorum shall be deemed to be an act of the
13 advisory committee.
14 (d) Terms.--
15 (1) The terms of the members under subsection (a) shall
16 be concurrent with their holding of the public office.
17 (2) A member appointed under subsection (b) shall serve
18 a three-year term as long as they represent the interest of
19 the membership class for which they were appointed and shall
20 serve until a successor is appointed.
21 (e) Chairperson.--The secretary shall serve as chairperson
22 of the advisory committee.
23 (f) Expenses of members.--Members of the advisory committee
24 shall receive no compensation for their services. Members who
25 are not employees of State government shall be reimbursed at
26 established Commonwealth rates for expenses incurred in the
27 performance of their duties on the advisory committee.
28 Section 503. Powers and duties of advisory committee.
29 (a) General rule.--The advisory committee shall:
30 (1) Make recommendations to the Governor and the
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 1 secretary on policies, procedures, regulations and
2 legislation to attract, retain and integrate immigrants into
3 this Commonwealth's society.
4 (2) Serve as the Governor's liaison to new
5 Pennsylvanians on policies, procedures, regulations and
6 legislation that affect immigrants, in order to ensure that
7 State government is accessible, accountable and responsive to
8 the needs of immigrants.
9 (3) Serve as a resource to all departments, commissions
10 and agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction to ensure that
11 government entities are cognizant of the needs of immigrants
12 and that the entities' respective services and programs are
13 accessible to immigrants.
14 (4) Work with the office to monitor the practices of
15 Commonwealth agencies relating to the attraction, retention
16 and integration of immigrants in order to maximize the
17 efficiency and accessibility to State government.
18 (5) Perform other duties as the Governor and secretary
19 may assign in planning for services and programs for
20 immigrants.
21 (b) Studies and reports.--The advisory committee may conduct
22 studies and issue reports upon request and as necessary on <--
23 issues affecting immigrants in this Commonwealth.
24 (c) Public hearings.--The advisory committee shall conduct
25 at least one public hearing each year to receive testimony and
26 public comments on improving the attraction, retention and
27 integration of immigrants in this Commonwealth.
28 (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
29 construed to prevent the advisory committee from establishing ad
30 hoc work groups or local committees to assist in research and
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 1 other duties necessary to carry out the mission of the office.
2 CHAPTER