HB 2403 (Pennsylvania, 2025-2026) – Summary
Purpose and intent
- The bill appropriates funds from two sources within the General Fund to the Department of State (DOS) for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) to support the professional licensure boards assigned to it.
- Specifically, it draws from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund, directing these resources to the DOS for BPOA operations.
Key provisions
- Funding sources:
- Professional Licensure Augmentation Account: A dedicated fund intended to bolster professional licensure activities.
- Restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund: Other constrained funds available to the General Fund, limited by statutory restrictions.
- Recipient and purpose:
- Department of State (DOS), for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
- The funds are allocated to support the professional licensure boards under the BPOA, including operations, personnel, and related activities necessary to administer and regulate professional licensure.
- Scope of use:
- The appropriations are intended to enhance regulatory functions of the boards, potentially covering board administration, investigations, licensure processing, renewal cycles, compliance activities, enforcement, and related program costs.
- Administrative framework:
- The bill specifies that the appropriations are to be expended by the DOS for the BPOA, implying administrative oversight, accountability measures, and reporting consistent with existing state financial management practices.
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries:
- BPOA’s professional licensure boards (e.g., boards regulating professions under DOS oversight), including staff, operations, and enforcement units.
- Other affected parties:
- Licensees and applicants in regulated professions, as licensure processing and regulatory oversight may be influenced by funding levels.
- DOS and the broader state general fund structure, given reallocation from restricted and augmentation accounts to support BPOA activities.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Action history indicates a multi-stage legislative process:
- Referred to Appropriations (March 24, 2026)
- Reported as committed (March 25, 2026)
- Re-committed to Appropriations and further motions (April 14–15, 2026)
- Second consideration (April 15, 2026)
- Current status (as of the latest action):
- The bill progressed through the Appropriations Committee and into the second consideration stage, with re-committal to Appropriations indicating potential amendments or reevaluation of the funding details.
- Sponsorship:
- Primary sponsor: (not listed in provided text)
- Co-sponsor: Jordan Harris
Notes for readers
- The bill centers on reallocating and dedicating funds to strengthen the regulatory functions of professional licensure boards within the BPOA.
- Specific dollar amounts, exact grant/transfer scales, and the list of eligible boards are not detailed in the provided summary; the full fiscal note or text would specify the exact figures and allocations.
- As with all appropriations bills, final impact depends on enacted language, including any reporting requirements, sunset provisions, or conditions attached to the funding.
