Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes emergency finance and tax provisions, and provides for COVID-19 response transfers and for the Enhance Revenue Collection Account.

Highlights:

• Establishes temporary authority to the Department of Revenue in order to deal with state taxation during the disaster emergency announced by the Governors March 6, 2020 proclamation (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that during the disaster emergency the department shall extend the filing and payment tax return deadlines known under the Tax Reform Code of 1971 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the department to disregard the period of April 14, 2020 through July 16, 2020 in their calculation of interest (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $50 million in special funds from the Governor’s jurisdiction to a restricted account in order to acquire medical equipment and supplies for health care entities to meet urgent patient and staff needs to address surge demand (Sec. 1.2).

• Defines “health care entities” to mean the following, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1.2):

• Hospitals;

• Nursing facilities; and

• Emergency medical services.

• Establishes that the funds shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Budget into a restricted account within the general fund of the State Treasury and prohibits any funds transferring that would result in a deficit in any of the funds (Sec. 1.2).

Full Bill Text