Pennsylvania Act 2018-107 — PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ONE-STOP SHOP ACT - ENACTMENT

Act text

An Act

Providing for the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop within the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop Act.

Section 2. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commonwealth agencies." Any office, department, authority, board or commission of the Executive Department of the Commonwealth that is subject to the policy supervision and control of the Governor.

"Department." The Department of Community and Economic Development of the Commonwealth.

"Individual business account." A secure online account maintained by the Department of Community and Economic Development to store individualized information relating to a business's activities through the one-stop shop.

"One-stop shop." The Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop established under section 3(a).

"Permit." The whole, part or the renewal of any permit, certificate, license, approval, registration, charter or any other form of permission issued by a Commonwealth agency to allow for the operation of a business in this Commonwealth.

"Permit application." Any request to a Commonwealth agency which is necessary to obtain a permit.

Section 3. Establishment of Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop.

(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop to provide a single online access point to aid business owners and potential business owners in identifying and securing the necessary permits, licenses, certifications, applications, forms and registrations associated with satisfying the legal requirements necessary to lawfully establish and operate a business in this Commonwealth.

(b) Functions.--No later than 30 days after the effective date of this subsection, the one-stop shop shall provide electronic access to features or resources regarding the following:

(1) The registration of business names under 54 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 (relating to corporate and other association names).

(2) The professional licensure requirements for businesses imposed by the Commonwealth.

(3) The registration of business structures with the Department of State.

(4) The registration of a fictitious name with the Department of State under 54 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3 (relating to fictitious names).

(5) The registration of State tax accounts with the Department of Revenue.

(6) The registration of employer accounts with the Department of Labor and Industry.

(7) The identification of points of contact for political subdivisions which may have applicable local registrations, permits, zoning requirements or other requirements.

(c) Additional functions.--The department may add the following features or resources to the one-stop shop:

(1) The creation of an individual business account to store general information on the business, which will be used to automatically fill in recurring fields on a permit application.

(2) The electronic submission of a permit application.

(3) The electronic submission of permit fees or fines.

(4) The tracking of status of payments from Commonwealth agencies to contractors.

(5) The tracking of pending permit applications.

(6) The recording of electronic signatures.

(7) Access to customized, Commonwealth agency-created to-do checklists specific to the individual business account.

(8) Online interaction with the department to resolve difficulties with the one-stop shop.

(9) Online interaction with Commonwealth agencies to resolve questions relating to permit applications.

(10) The protection of the confidentiality of all information submitted through the one-stop shop.

(11) The recording of backup records of all activities, including time-stamp information on the submission of permit applications.

(12) Any other features or resources that the department deems advisable.

Section 4. Cooperation between department and Commonwealth agencies.

(a) Technical assistance.--At the request of the department, a Commonwealth agency shall provide technical assistance and guidance for the implementation of additional features or resources of the one-stop shop.

(b) Integration.--A Commonwealth agency shall cooperate in good faith with the department for the development of additional features or resources of the one-stop shop.

Section 5. Preservation of Commonwealth agency authority.

This act shall not supersede any regulatory authority granted to any Commonwealth agency.

Section 6. Annual report.

No later than January 1 of each year, the department shall submit a report on the one-stop shop, including information on the number of businesses assisted and types of assistance provided to each business, to the following:

(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee of the Senate.

(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives.

Section 7. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.