Section 1508. Use and Appropriation of Unused Commonwealth Funds.--(a) Whenever the Governor has declared a disaster emergency, the Governor may transfer any unused funds which may have been appropriated for the ordinary expenses of the State government in the General Fund to such Commonwealth agencies as the Governor may direct to be expended for relief of disaster in such manner as the Governor shall approve, and the funds are hereby appropriated to the Governor for such purposes. The total of the transfers under this subsection shall not exceed forty million dollars ($40,000,000) in any one fiscal year except by action of the General Assembly.
(b) Whenever the Governor shall have proclaimed a disaster emergency in accordance with section 20 of Article IV of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the Governor shall have power to transfer any unused funds which may have been appropriated for the ordinary expenses of government in the General Fund to such Commonwealth agencies as he may direct to be expended for reimbursements as provided in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7705(a) and (b) (relating to special powers of local agencies). Such reimbursements shall be made in accordance with and to the extent permitted by regulations issued by such agency or agencies as the Governor may designate to administer the reimbursement programs established by 35 Pa.C.S. § 7705(a) and (b). The total of such transfers shall never exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000) in any one fiscal year except by action of the General Assembly.
(c) Subject to subsection (d), if the funds available to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes under paragraphs (1) and (2) which have been expended or committed is less than $25,000,000, the Secretary of the Budget may transfer any unused funds which have been appropriated for the ordinary expenses of State government in the General Fund and reauthorize the funds for use by the Department of Agriculture. Funds reauthorized under this subsection are hereby appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for the following purposes related to preparing for and responding to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza:
(1) Providing grants to offset income losses and cover costs associated with any of the following:
(i) Workforce payroll and benefits.
(ii) Mortgage interest and rent payments.
(iii) Utility expenses.
(iv) Delays in repopulating or reopening facilities.
(v) Other losses or costs related to response efforts that are not otherwise eligible for or covered by Federal funding, insurance, contracts or other funding sources.
(2) Establishing and operating a highly pathogenic avian influenza rapid response team.
(d) In any one fiscal year, the total of the transfers under subsection (c) shall not exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), and the amount utilized for purposes under subsection (c)(2) shall not exceed two million dollars ($2,000,000).
(1508 amended Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.156, No.45)