Pennsylvania Act 2002-149 — TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ACT - AMEND UNIVERSAL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT, TOBACCO SETTLEMENT INVESTMENT BOARD AND ELIGIBILITY FOR PACE AND PACENET

Act text

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ACT - AMEND UNIVERSAL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT, TOBACCO
     SETTLEMENT INVESTMENT BOARD AND ELIGIBILITY FOR PACE AND PACENET
                 Act of Dec. 6, 2002, P.L. 1244, No. 149              Cl. 35
                             Session of 2002
                               No. 2002-149

     HB 2860

                                  AN ACT

     Amending the act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755, No.77), entitled "An
        act establishing a special fund and account for money
        received by the Commonwealth from the Master Settlement
        Agreement with tobacco manufacturers; providing for home and
        community-based care, for tobacco use prevention and
        cessation efforts, for Commonwealth universal research
        enhancement, for hospital uncompensated care, for health
        investment insurance, for medical assistance for workers with
        disabilities, for regional biotechnology research centers,
        for the HealthLink Program, for community-based health care
        assistance programs, for PACE reinstatement and PACENET
        expansion, for medical education loan assistance and for
        percentage allocation and appropriation of moneys," further
        providing for universal research enhancement definitions and
        for the Tobacco Settlement Investment Board; and extending
        eligibility for PACE and PACENET.

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

        Section 1.  Section 304(a) of the act of June 26, 2001
     (P.L.755, No.77), known as the Tobacco Settlement Act, is
     amended to read:
      Section 304.  Tobacco Settlement Investment Board.
        (a)  Establishment.--There is hereby established the Tobacco
     Settlement Investment Board, consisting of 11 members as
     follows: the Governor or a designee; the Secretary of the
     Budget; [the State Treasurer or a designee; one member] two
     members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and
     one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; [one
     member] two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
     Representatives and one member appointed by the Minority Leader
     of the House of Representatives; and three members appointed by
     the Governor[; and one member appointed by the State Treasurer].
     Legislative appointments shall serve at the pleasure of the
     appointing authority. Other appointed members shall serve for a
     term of four years and until a successor is appointed. Members
     of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be
     reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in the
     performance of their official duties. The Governor shall select
     one member as chairperson, and the members of the board shall
     select one member as secretary.
        * * *
        Section 2.  The definition of "infrastructure" in section 902
     of the act is amended to read:
      Section 902.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
     shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        * * *
        "Infrastructure."  [Equipment,] Office equipment and
     supplies, nonprofessional personnel, laboratory or building
     construction or renovations[, or the development, acquisition or
     maintenance of technology, including training,] used to conduct
     research.
        * * *
        Section 3.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:
      Section 2306.1.  PACE and PACENET reinstatement.
        (a)  PACE.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
     contrary, persons who, as of December 31, 2002, are enrolled in
     the PACE program provided for pursuant to Chapter 5 of the act
     of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State Lottery
     Law, shall remain eligible for the PACE program if the maximum
     income limit is exceeded due solely to a Social Security cost-
     of-living adjustment. Eligibility in the PACE program pursuant
     to this section shall expire on December 31, 2003.
        (b)  PACENET.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to
     the contrary, persons who, as of December 31, 2002, are enrolled
     in the PACENET program established pursuant to section 519 of
     the State Lottery Law shall remain eligible for the PACENET
     program if the maximum income limit is exceeded due solely to a
     Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. Eligibility in the
     PACENET program pursuant to this section shall expire on
     December 31, 2003.
        Section 4.  This act shall take effect immediately.

     APPROVED--The 6th day of December, A. D. 2002.

     MARK S. SCHWEIKER