Argall Introduces Bill to Strengthen His Downtown Location Law

HARRISBURG –A bill to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Downtown Location Law has been introduced by the law’s original sponsor, State Senator David G. Argall (R-29).

Senate Bill 1201 will amend the current law, approved in the 1999-2000 session, to require the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) to coordinate with local public and private sector community revitalization organizations when deciding on a location for any state agency office.

"Over the past 10 years, 90 percent of all state government leases have been designated in our downtown areas," said Argall. "This began as a bipartisan effort to set an example for development in our downtowns. Now, based on 10 years experience, I hope to improve the original law," Argall added.

"To further improve the law, this bill requires coordination between the state and organizations committed to community, downtown revitalization and historic preservation. This will give these organizations unprecedented ability to reshape and revitalize our aging downtowns," Argall added.

Along with providing for new levels of cooperation, this bill will strengthen DGS’s ability to deny requests to state agencies to locate outside of downtown areas.

Introduced by Argall and signed into law by Governor Tom Ridge, the Downtown Location Law encourages state agencies to locate new offices in central business districts. The law requires the Department of General Services to establish guidelines for state agencies that facilitate downtown location.

Senate Bill 1201 is cosponsored by Senators Richard Alloway (R-Franklin), Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny), John Gordner (R-Columbia), Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery), Mike O’Pake (D-Berks) and Mary Jo White (R-Venango).