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HB 1729

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous offenses, providing for children's online safety.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by José Giral and 10 co-sponsors

Funds and oversight for the Department of Marine Resources, including $271.1 million in appropriations and strict payroll, reporting, and project-use controls.

Referred to Communications & Technology
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Bill Summary · HB 1729

HB 1729 — Appropriation; Department of Marine Resources

Status (per provided metadata): Died in Conference
Note: the legislative-action log included with the bill also shows extensive floor and committee activity and records indicating the bill was enrolled, transmitted to the governor, and (per entries) signed 05/29/2025 and made effective 09/01/2025 (Act 679). These records conflict; see “Procedural/Timeline” below.

Purpose / Intent

Provide FY2026 appropriations and related policy directions for the Department of Marine Resources (DMR). The bill funds agency operations, authorizes staffing levels, allocates tidelands project funding, and sets accounting, personnel, and oversight requirements for spending.

Key provisions

  • Appropriations
    • State General Fund: $3,555,266.
    • Special funds to DMR: $256,844,716 (of which $3,050,000 is derived from state excise taxes on gasoline/oil/petroleum products).
  • Tidelands Fund appropriation: $11,700,000 (Tidelands Fund No. 3345200000), allocated as:
    • Public access projects: $4,576,165
    • Management projects: $4,576,164
    • Bond repayment: $1,547,671
    • Prior-year projects: $1,000,000
  • Authorized headcount: 108 permanent positions (time-limited positions referenced but amount not specified).
  • Personnel and payroll controls:
    • Agency must ensure personal services for FY2027 do not exceed FY2026 unless the Legislature approves additions.
    • Restrictions on using vacancy funds (must be for filling vacancies, not salary increases/promotions).
    • State Personnel Board projections and oversight; salary actions limited if projected payroll exceeds appropriations without additional funds.
    • Prohibits use of general funds to replace withdrawn federal/special funds for salaries.
    • Compliance required with IRS Publication 15-A reporting rules.
  • Administrative/oversight requirements:
    • DMR must maintain accounting and personnel records at the same detail as FY2025 and submit FY2027 budget request in comparable detail to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
    • Political subdivisions receiving tidelands funds must comply with statutory requirements, be audit-able, and submit semiannual expenditure reports.
    • Authorization to move tidelands funds between approved projects with proper documentation (Form TTF-6).
    • Interest on special trust funds credited to the fund; interest may be used for reasonable administration costs.
  • Employee benefit: Marine Conservation Officers and Supervisors receive up to $600/year uniform allowance.

Who is affected

  • Department of Marine Resources (primary recipient/implementer).
  • Political subdivisions and local entities receiving tidelands grants (must apply by stated deadlines and comply with audit/reporting requirements).
  • DMR employees (headcount, payroll rules, uniform allowance).
  • State fiscal offices (State Personnel Board, Department of Finance and Administration) for approvals/oversight.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced (per header): Jan 03, 2025.
  • Committee and floor activity is extensive in the log; entries list readings, committee reports, amendments, conferees, and a “Died in Conference” entry (03/29/2025).
  • The included action history also records enrollment, transmission to the governor, a governor’s signature (05/29/2025), and an effective date of 09/01/2025 (noted as Act 679). These items indicate conflicting procedural records; users should verify the official status in the relevant state legislative/secretary-of-state database.

Fiscal impact summary

  • Direct appropriations totaling roughly $271.1 million across general and special funds (sum of $3,555,266 + $256,844,716 + $11,700,000).
  • Specific constraints limit use of funds for payroll expansion absent legislative approval.

If you want, I can:
- Verify final enactment status in the official state legislative records (specify state), or
- Produce a short one‑page brief focused on fiscal impacts only.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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